Uhuru Market traders turn to juju to charm customers

By PKEMOI NGENOH

Traders in Uhuru market on Jogoo Road are disturbed that some of their competitors are using witchcraft to attract customers.

Strange items have been found hung in some stalls, raising eyebrows over their presence.

A trader, Ann Jumba, whose vegetable business collapsed a few months ago, exclusively shared her chilling misfortune with The Nairobian.

“I operated the business in the market for only five months. In fact, I was making good profits out of it. One morning I stumbled upon strange paraphernalia: hair, black powder and two bones on the roof of my stall,” said Jumba.

She alerted her friends, who witnessed and concluded that someone was not happy with her business growth and was casting a spell over her business.

She picked the charm, wrapped it in polythene bag and dumped it in a dust bin.

But soon, her business started collapsing.

“Some of my loyal customers, including neighbours, disappeared one after another.

Even selling a single banana a day became difficult so I closed down the business,” she said.

Several similar incidents occurred in the market. Nathan Ndeke, a barber in the nearby stalls, shared his experience on black magic: “Nobody is clean here nowadays. Some people, even barbers like me, have ‘treated’ fly whisks used to wipe customers’ heads after shaving them. The treatment is meant to retain them,” says Nathan.

He revealed that some businessmen in the city sprinkle ‘treated’ water every morning around their business premises to attract customers.

Others bury some roots under shops, hang bones or magic

photos believing customers will flow in plenty.

Next time you visit a shop, stall or eatery, look around. You will be shocked to spot one of those strange ‘tools’ used to attract customers.