Members of a clan in Kahuro, Murang’a County have a hard time trying to distance themselves from the self-styled womanizers christened 'Team Mafisi'.
Mbari ya Hiti (translated as Hyena’s Clan) is the clan’s name. Because of their name, some people associate it with Team Mafisi of men fond of salivating at women and discussing them in a sexual manner.
The clan has had the name for decades without getting mocked in the community but recent linking with Mafisi has irked the clan members because of the contempt it has brought.
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They are struggling to set records straight and disassociate from team Mafisi.
Sam Macharia, a son of this clan says comparing them with 'Mafisi' has affected their children in school which bears the name Mbari ya Hiti. Their shopping centre, church and factory also have this name.
“We see these so-called Mafisi celebrating us on social media as their followers. We are a reputable clan that should not be put in the same sentence with such a group of men. Linking us with them has deflated the self-esteem of our young people because they are mocked by agemates” Macharia laments.
“Our children get mocked by others when they meet but we just encourage them to be proud of their lineage. Or what can we do? We are tired of explaining ourselves but I hope this excitement will go away soon” says Joseph Mwangi, a member of the clan told K24 Digital.
In a past interview Peter Nyaga, an elder in his 90s said though the clan’s name is odd amongst Kikuyus, it has nothing to do with the way hyenas behave or the Team Mafisi.
“My grandchildren tell me about these people fond of women who claim we are related because we share names. They should not entangle us in their lustful affairs” Nyaga says.
According to him, their great forefather picked the hyena's name because his sibling thought he was a schemer of a kind. A name that stuck with his descendants and are not willing to drop it.
