The Kamba people strongly believe in supernatural powers. People with such powers can cast a spell on other people, command weather, and perform other acts that defy nature.
Acquisition
These superpowers can either be inert based on someone’s family lineage or acquired from a third party. It is believed that mothers would pass the powers to their daughters immediately at birth.
These powers would take them past adolescence where they are expected to make their first kill before their breasts grow. Before marriage, the daughters would get an additional package. If they reject it, they become barren. The final installment is administered after they sire both genders: a boy and a girl.
It is believed that if all those powers are given at once, they could lead to infertility. In the instances where mothers passed away at birth, they’ll have already initiated the baby and the next installments are supposed to be issued by the closest aunts.
Ngata
Ngata is a specially prepared traditional medical charm popular among the Kamba people which is believed to protect people against witchcraft.
It was originally invented by Malonza Muithi, a powerful traditional healer from a place known as Kabati in Sombe Kitui County. Ideally, it is a specially prepared goat meat that is used to administer the charm.
It acts as a “bullet-proof” vest to protect people against any form of witchcraft.
Passing the mantle
The recipe for preparing the special charm is kept as a top secret. It is supposed to be inherited by the firstborn sons for every “house” in the lineage.
Before the inventor Malonza died, he passed it to his two wives namely Mbandi and Ndululu as well as one of his aides by the name Kilungya. The wives operate from a small town known as Mutomo in Kitui. His firstborn sons(Muthoka a.k.a Mwikya and John) also inherited the recipe.
On his deathbed, Mr. Kilungya did the same thing and passed the mantle to his aide known as Quick Kinyamasyo who now operates from Mbitini in Kitui county.
