Albinos in danger over cross-border body parts trade

By Mwangi Muiruri

The widespread killing of albinos in Tanzania appeared distant among Kenyans but it has emerged that probability of such attacks slipping into the country are real.

Sammy Kyamana, a Kenyan living with albinism says he has been attacked four times in Nairobi’s Pumwani area by people he suspects are agents of Tanzania witches.

"I walked along Gikomba market. I heard someone whisper besabo! Oyo besa! I instantly fathomed the Tanzanian dialect (Chaaga) to mean "that is money."

Then two men approached him.

"I shouted for help and they ran away," he says.

In the second incident, he fought back and ran away while the third time, with assistance of passers-by, they apprehended a suspect whom they took to Pumwani Chief’s camp.

"But the suspect wriggled out of our grip and ran away," he says. But he reported the incident and was promised further investigation.

Kyamana says he later got a tip that the witchcraft cartel in Tanzania has a link with the "doctors" operating in Kenya calling themselves "herbalists from Tanzania."

A quack’s advertising board in the city.

He says they advertise themselves as "daktari wa Kienyeji" from Tanzania or Tanganyika and purport to treat myriad of diseases and social challenges. Most of them promise financial freedom, business success, solutions for marital and sexual problems, and charms for protection from enemies among others.

In the fourth occasion, ‘agents’ in Nairobi’s Gikomba Market offered him employment in Tanzania.

Kyamana, 28, a student at the University of Nairobi and working for the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) says all the incidents have occurred this month.

He says the Government must crack down on such "dubious doctors" who in real sense are practicing witchcraft and might be recruited by those who believe that our body organs are of magical value."

Zubedi Hassan, a resident of Majengo area says they have been complaining about criminal elements from Tanzania operating in the area.

"They are employed as watchmen. During the night, they commit crimes and even attack people," he says.

Kyamana told CCI that he suspects the attacks were attempts by agents of Tanzania witchdoctors behind murder of albinos.

"I think they are already here in Kenya. As a result, those of us living with albinism are worried that we will be targeted and our body organs traded to witches," he laments.

The organs, particularly genitals, limbs, breasts, fingers and the tongue are believed by the witches to contain magical power.

The witches prepare concoctions using the organs and promise instant riches to their clients.

Already, a murderous wave in some parts of Tanzania and Burundi and spreading to Ghanahas left more than 100 albinos murdered and their organs chopped off.

In Tanzania, unidentified people in search of the ‘magical organs’ are known to exhume bodies of albinos whenever such a death occurs.

According to a BBC report, the price for the magical dose is being retailed at an average of Tanzanian Shilling 3.9 million (Sh140, 000. Consultation fee ranges from $20 to $100 per session (Sh1,400-7,000) and a client is required to attend several sessions.

To confound the fears, the CCI has learnt that on August 6, Kenya’s albinism foundation wrote to Internal Security ministry requesting for protection.

Albinism Foundation of East Africa-Kenyan Chapter managing trustee, Mumbi Ngugi, revealed that the move was ignited by fear of attacks occurring in Kenya.

"You see Kenya has witchdoctors who are no different from those in Tanzania and Burundi. We also have open and porous borders that can encourage cross-border infiltration by elements in need of quick riches," she explains.

She says so far threat claims have been reported in Borabu, Kisii but are yet to be ascertained.

"It is based on that claim that we wrote to the ministry requesting that a national census be conducted for us to know our exact population for both sexes and our occupations be tabulated," she says.

The foundation Chairman Alex Munyere expresses fears that Kenya is at risk of such killings.

Sammy Kyamana who says he has been attacked four times in Nairobi. Photo: Tom Maruko and Ann Kamoni/Standard

"We are very concerned about the killings that could easily spread to our country," he told CCI.

He said they were committed to protecting their rights and fighting the perpetrators hoping that the Government will not be caught napping.

Ngugi says the Government has to ascertain the number of children with albinism and the schools they attend "so that tracking for protection can be easy."

The organisation estimates a prevalence ratio of 1:5,000, approximately 6,000 people countrywide.

Ngugi says her members are vulnerable to attacks owing to stigmatisation.

"Already, we are so stigmatised. Currently, 60 to 70 per cent of children with albinism live with single mothers or grandparents since their mothers are often abandoned by their spouses at birth on excuse the babies are a bad omen," she says.

She says that in some communities, babies with albinism are killed immediately after birth since they are perceived to be products of witchcraft.

She warns that unless the Government offers them security, thugs might kidnap one of their own for sale to witches.

This comes as it emerges that attackers are spreading their wings beyond Tanzania and Burundi hence the need for a regional approach to tackle the menace.

Already, CCI established that the Tanzanian Government has called for an East African Community joint plan in hunting down traders of human body organs.

This was after intelligence reports showed that while fleeing crackdowns in Tanzania and Burundi, the traders headed to Uganda and could easily slip into Kenya.

However, police spokesman Eric Kiraithe assures albinos that the country is absolutely safe.

"In Kenya, we are yet to record any threat against people with albinism. But we are not sleeping. We are alert and any element scheming such a barbaric act would not be given breathing space," he says.

He calls upon members of the public to be alert and report any suspected incidences.

Wangui Mbatia of Kenya National Grassroots Organisation (KENGO)says: "In the course of our duty, we have encountered albinos who have expressed their fears."

"A person living with albinism is no different from any one of us. He has a right to live without fear or intimidation. All of us should protect them," she says.

Citing press reports that show the killings have been reported around Lake Victoria in Uganda, she says our border security agents should be vigilant.

Ngugi says some albinos are afraid of staying or travelling alone for fear of attacks.

"It is immoral to hear that some people can selfishly attach the death of a fellow human being as the plank towards riches," she says.

She says Kenyans owe them a voice of "resolute condemnation against perpetrators of such acts."

Government spokesman Alfred Mutua laments the killings of any human being for "archaic excuses."

"It is a shameful and distressing. We cannot allow it in Kenya and while there is no sign of such a risk, you can bet any slight indication will be dealt with decisively," he says.

He urges neighbours to accord people with albinism compassion and protection. Mutua says: "It is even the Government’s stand that we discard superstitious beliefs and shortcuts to getting weath. They are wrong beliefs." Ngugi calls upon religious leaders and human rights activists to enlighten the public that the killings are socially and morally unjustified.

 

 

 

 

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