DEVILS’ BRIDGE WATERFALL

About 300 meters from Gikumene primary school along Meru-Nkubu Highway before negotiating the sharp Ngo’nyii corner, there is a splendid waterfall. The waterfall is locally known as Ndurumo-ya-irine, which literally means irine waterfall, and it is formed by River Riiji. The waterfall separates two neighbouring villages of Ngo’nyii and Nchaure. The water drops down to about 300 feet and hits upon rocks and turns into a milky mist before forming a small natural dam and then flows along the river course. About 30 meters from the waterfall is a huge boulder upon which the water has cut through as it proceeds with its journey downwards. This huge boulder, which the water has cut through, has been traditionally referred to as uroro-bwa-nkoma or ndaracha-ya-nkoma, which means devils’ bridge.

In the olden days, the place was an important source of red and white ochre. Ochre is traditionally known as nondoo in Meru language. Red and white ochre was used by various African communities for decoration of their bodies. It was also used by women to draw a line on their heads if one was hosting a community party.

During circumcision seasons, boys could be painted with ochre by their parents which was known as kuringwa-iraa as they went to be circumcised as a sign to show that the boy was now destined for circumcision which meant moving from childhood to adulthood. Community members also used to mine traditional salt called igatii or itui from the sides of the huge extensive boulder near the waterfall.

The Waterfall at Iriine aslo known as Devils Bridge