This place in Nyeri- Nyeri Museum

Ruringu Museum, formerly known as Kiama court  still remains in good shape. It was built in 1924 by the British Government and initially operated as an African (native) court dealing mainly with customary and criminal issues that were previously handled by clan elders in the village.

 Initially the British guided the officers in the proceedings but later the system was left entirely in the hands of the local people, with the British Government only playing a supervisory role.

As the fight for independence gained momentum, the court also started trying some Mau Mau freedom fighters though there was a rule that they could not be mixed with other offenders to prevent any form of interaction between different groups.

 Instead of using the bible here, they swore while tapping on the goat of a head with a hollow stick so that if they were lying an ancestral curse would befall them.

Among the documented elders appointed at the court, there was a Mr. Mathias Kiragu from Othaya who was head of pregnancy and debt-related cases and Mr. Johana Kunyiha from Ruringu who was head of criminal cases such as theft and murder.

 The court also employed njama - who were security officials who ensured that there was security around the court and that the accused people did not escape. They were also responsible for sending summons and they were sent sometimes to collect property from homes of those who had not paid their debts or poll tax.

this hall also served as a meeting hall for the then Local Native Council which is currently reffered to as the county council of Nyeri. With time however, the British Government introduced modern law courts and employed magistrates, interpreters and clerks to deal with increasing criminal cases.

 

 
The National Museums of Kenya took over the court building, which had been used by churches and various groups from 1961.
 
it still has some of the historic items used by the former court such as the chairs used by the elders