The all-important traditional Kikuyu initiation ceremonies (Mambura) which ushered a new generation of youth into adulthood ready for marriage involved many processes of which the circumcision of the genital organs (Irua), is the only thing that today's generation knows about.
Among the things taught during this period before marriage, were matters relating to rules and regulations governing sexual indulgence.
The initiates went through training of the control of sexual energy by a method referred to as 'Nguīko' which involved intimate contact between a woman and a man but did not involve penetration.
What did Nguîko (Kikuyu) Really Entail?
After the healing process of the surgical cut, the new initiates (irui) returned and grouped themselves inside their huts (thingiras) where the nguîko teachings were held.
It is here where circumcised girls of the older age-set came and performed Nguīko with the new male initiates. This Nguīko could happen at first under the supervision of the matrons in charge of the girls’ training but they were soon left alone after they internalized the rules.
Jomo Kenyatta in his book 'Facing Mt Kenya' describes how the act was performed.
"...The boy removes all his clothing. The girl removes her upper garment (nguo ya ngoro) and retains her skirt (mûthuru) and her soft leather apron (mwengû) which she pulls back between her legs from behind and fastens to the waist, thus keeping mwengû in position and forming an effective protection of her private parts."
"In this position the lovers lie together facing each other with their legs interwoven to prevent any movement of their hips. They then begin to fondle each other rubbing their breasts together, whilst at the same time they engage in love-making conversations until they gradually fall asleep..."
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It would then continue with different partners until marriage which ended the group sharing but the exercise would continue within marriage.
'Nguīko' was treated as a sacred and divine act. This training of regulation of sexual energy formed the foundation of the cardinal virtue of temperance, where sexual energy is hidden, controlled and used judiciously.
The rules governing Nguīko were such strict that a couple could never risk the heavy consequences of infringing them. The consequence for undoing a woman’s skirt, for instance, was met with social ostracism from a group for the man and the impossibility of getting another girl to agree to his Nguīko.
Punishments for Culprits of Nguiko (Kikuyu for Non-Penetrative sex)
In the event that the two colluded and the woman was found out, she would become a communal laughing stock. That is why every girl's skirt (mûthuru) and the apron (mwengû) were carefully inspected in the morning by the matron or other girls.
In the unheard event that a woman was to get pregnant, the punishment to the man by the Communal Council was nine goats and three fat rams given to the same council. The man then became a social outcast and was no longer involved in his age group's activities.
On the other hand, the girl would find it hard to get a husband after that which was a terrible predicament to say the least.