THE EQUATOR SIGNPOST AT NYAHURURU, KENYA

There is a place around the Central Region of Kenya called Nyahururu. Someone recently said that Nyahururu like Nairobi, derived its name from Maasai language and had something to do with what they described as ‘hururu’ or the sound of the roaring waters from the nearby Thompson falls. It may or may not be. Apparently many places including Nairobi benefited from Maasai names before the colonial agreements confined them to the south of the railway line.

In this place like in other places such as Maseno in Kisumu Country, or near Meru Town; the equator runs across the road. Consequently, by travelling along the road a traveler cross from the Northern to the Southern Hemispheres or verse versa.

As Baba Johane approached the end of his journey on earth, he took the elders or Dare Pitros of that time to Nyahururu to bear witness of what was like a handing over event. He asked them to read the sign and go to the other side and check if the writings were the same. He then made it clear that he had gone as far North as he had been permitted to, and that they would continue the journey. As such unlike those who were present, he did not cross the equator line.

Apart from the equator, the other latitude that the messenger mentioned was the tropic of Capricorn – which he said passed through the region where he was born and went on to Australia where they should travel to in future.

The photo above was taken as tourist vehicles stopped – as you can imagine there are certain places that tourists like visiting. Other tourist sites not too faraway from there could include a view of Mt. Kenya possibly the only mountain that lies squarely on the equator and has permanent ice all year round. Thompson falls is also not far from there.

P/S: The next post in a week or so will be about the first two pastors who were citizens of Kenya. Stay tuned because there are a lot more topics to be covered.