By Robert Nyasato

Nine women have been charged with practising witchcraft.

They denied the charge at the Kisii Resident Magistrate Court on Tuesday.

Ms Teresa Kemunto, Ms Moraa Omwanda, Ms Mary Moraa, Ms Agnes Kerubo, Ms Moraa Amichari, Ms Teresa Kebwaro, Ms Trufena Nyakioki and Ms Martha Machoki were jointly charged with pretending to have witchcraft knowledge with intent to injure a boy by making him walk from a house to another in the village for a whole night on April 29 at Kiogoro sub-location in Kisii District.

The magistrate granted them Sh30,000 bond each with a surety in similar amount.

The case will be mentioned on May 14, and the hearing was fixed for June 8.

Last week, the nine escaped lynching after they allegedly abducted the boy, 11, from his home and applied black magic that made him dumb.

The case comes up in the wake of lynching of people suspected to practice witchcraft in the region.