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We have been told that these days the way to go is natural as far as health is concerned. So natural products both for cure and wholeness (when you are not sick) is on high demand. Natural is good. You are told to eat arrowroots, managu, fresh fruits and so on. In the healing category, we have been informed of herbs from certain trees, powders, barks, seeds and so forth. These products do heal many ailments. For Aids, not sure. I will gladly take them if any chance arises.
The chance presented itself when I had a bad tooth. It was really cold in Nairobi. Walking on the street, there was a ‘daktari’ who had displayed all manner of leaves, roots, fruits, soda, flowers. Going by the sizeable crowd around her, I stopped to check.
As if by cue, the lady suddenly described the different tooth ailments.
“Dawa ya meno si kungoa, dawa ya mti shamba ndio hii.” (The tooth should not be removed, I have herbal medicine here). She blasted. I thanked the heavens for bringing me across this wonderful lady.
She claimed she had blended ten different types of herbal medicine into a single concoction that would work a miracle in hours! I did not feel forking out two hundred shillings. “When you come to our offices, the price is 2000.” She declared. She had earlier demonstrated how to administer it, simply sip and wash the mouth the way one would use salt. The medicine was a clear liquid.
To cut the story short, when I reached home I realized that I had bought mineral water! Less than 20 ml for two hundred.
Going back to the fake herbalists, let’s go to the south where media reported. According to South Africa’s Daily Sun, A South African cleric, Prophet Rufus Phala has made his church members drink disinfectant, Dettol, in order to get healed. Medical experts have since pointed out that Dettol is harmful when ingested.
Coming back to Kenya the fake herbal crusaders know how to attract people, and their money.
“Kama unataka kuwa mwanaume kamili kwa kitanda, dawa ndio hii,” She will blast unashamedly. Sometimes she will regale to her listeners how long her husband goes at it! That is bound to attract both men and women as they promise such and such product will work wonders “instantly”.
“Wachana na Viagra,” Another will say. “Dawa ni hii, iko tu kwa soko ni vile wewe union atu na kupita.”
In some instances when they have explained various herbal products and their uses, they will offer a few ‘free’ samples and ‘few’ for sale at huge discounts.
“Huyo mnaonanga kwa TV na kusikia kwa Manukato radio ndio mimi.” He will say before adding, “Hizi dawa ni elfu moja kwa ofisi yetu lakini saa hii juu ni krismas ni mia tu. Niko ona dwa tatu pekee.” People will scramble for the few.
“Wee Kamau end pale kwa gari uone kama kuna dawa zingine tano nimewacha huko.” He will instruct a certain young man in the crowd, pointing to a glitzy vehicle parked nearby.
He will go on telling the curious crowd how he or she makes huge amounts of money.
“Matajiri wanaunua madawa kama hii kwa elfu ishirini.” He will say while handling a sachet of supposed herbal product.
Few questions I have asked myself lately. If they are on those funny TVs or radios and have offices where they make a killing, what on earth are they doing on the streets next to Kenya Archives, Haile Sellaise, Muthurwa and where else? I recently found out that they don’t own a car, rather they point to a random vehicle confidently while the ‘dawa’ is normally fished out from polythene papers in the crowd. Since I rarely watch the funny TV one named not listen to the particular vernacular radio, I have never tried to find out the offices they name, why bother if the street price is 80% cheaper?
