Ageing suspect locked in prison for his own safety

By Vitalis Kimutai and Linah Benyawa

An old man suspected of practising witchcraft has been remanded in prison over fears he could be lynched.

Philip Chumo alias Tumbo is being held at the Kericho GK Prison on orders of Bomet Senior Resident Magistrate Timothy Okello.

Okello made the decision after Sibayan chief Paul Kipyegon Koech told the court he could not guarantee the old man’s safety if he were released.

"Some villagers could kill him if he is set free. His safety is not guaranteed following the lynching of two other suspects in Bomet Central division," Koech said

But Chumo sought to be set free, saying he wanted to seek medication at Tenwek Mission Hospital.

"I do not care. I want to go to hospital for treatment even if they kill me. I am a born-again Christian and God will protect me and my chief knows it," he said, amid prolonged laughter in the courtroom.

Last week, the court cancelled a Sh10,000 bond after Bomet OCS Shadrack Opiyo said Chumo risked being lynched if freed.

Chumo was charged last month with being in possession of charms believed to be for witchcraft, but denied the charges. Okello set the hearing for March 30.

In Mombasa, a Tanzanian witchdoctor has been released on a Sh100,000 bond after denying the charges of circulating fake currencies.

Mr Juma Ramadhan Masoud, who told the court that he is a witchdoctor, is accused of circulating fake US currency valued at Sh78,000. The magistrate ordered him to surrender his passport pending hearing.

Meanwhile, Kenyans will now get the popular dried beef, aliya, in supermarkets. This follows an innovative venture by a Kenyan Home for the Blind and Deaf, Brian Resource Centre.

The resource centre will now be processing, drying and packaging beef to be sold first to local supermarket retail outlets, wholesalers, retailers, and institutions, including hotels.

The company, in partnership with a South African national, is investing more than Sh2.5 million to establish processing facilities on Lowland Road, Kasarani. Its target annual production is expected to be more than120,000kg of various weights.