“In the forest of Upper Kikuyu in the Aberdare range there grows a small tree called Thongoya(sic) which has the peculiarity of blossoming only every ten years…. In the distance, the forest appears blue in colour and it gives out a subtle and intoxicating odour which causes slight fever among the inhabitants…. The blossoming marks an era for the people…. The last blossoming occurred in 1929……”
Excerpts from The Akikuyu by Fr Cagnolo,1931.
Before our history was interrupted by colonization, our people were so much in sync with nature that time itself was counted by the plants. Among the Agĩkũyũ, the thũngũya shrub was a living calendar, its flowering tied to moments of upheaval and renewal. Among the Kalenjin it was known as seetyot, and among the Ameru as muurunja, a forest creeper that had a lifespan of fourteen years.
According to the Agikũyũ, this botanical clock flowered once every seven years, its blooms a harbinger of destiny. When its petals unfurled, the people knew that another turn of the cosmic wheel had begun. Five flowering meant that a regimental change of power was nigh. After flowering, it would wither and die, only to rise later for another seven-year cycle.
Today, thũngũya is blooming once more.
First spotted last December in Kinare Forest and parts of the Aberdares near Karurumo in Murang’a, its return has stirred excitement and curiosity. Elders, cultural scholars, botanists and forest lovers have all turned their gaze to the blue-tinged woods, searching for meaning in the fragile blush of its flowers. At its peak now, and expected to fade early next year, the bloom has reopened conversations about lost esoteric knowledge and ancient sciences once rooted firmly in nature.
As the wild roses of thũngũya bloom and forests turn blue, they beckon us to pause and marvel at the mystery of the inter-relatedness of nature and time. For in their fleeting beauty lies a reminder that life, like the thũngũya, is a cycle of endings and beginnings, with beautiful blooms in between.
To honour this magical return, Deep Valley Frontiers, one of Murang’a County’s best-kept secrets, has organized The Thũngũya Challenge. Starting at their scenic hotel in Tuthũ, the experience leads nature enthusiasts through the breathtaking Aberdares Forest, offering a chance to witness the blue flowers in bloom and stand inside a living myth. This challenge runs this December through to January 2026.
To be part of this once-in-a-generation moment, call or WhatsApp 0718 765757 for more information.