Witchdoctors invade county, rattle church

By NIKKO TANUI

Kericho, Kenya: The rising number of witchdoctors is worrying church leaders in Kericho.

Speaking to the Press, Rev  John Deus raised alarm that major trading centres in the county were being invaded by witchdoctors.

“Everywhere from street corners to trees have boards pined on them by waganga (witchdoctors) claiming to be from Tanzania, Machakos, Western. They claim to have powers to nab thieves, solve land issues, solve marital problems, among other weird claims,” he said.

Deus’ concerns come in the wake of three incidents last week where residents sought the services of witchdoctors but ended up in deaths.

In the first incident in Kipkelion District, a man died after allegedly declining to partake  a witchdoctor’s ritual. The man is said to have refused to take a sip of the witchdoctor’s concoction he had prepared to resolve the mysterious disappearance of a matutu driver.

In the second incident, the concoction of another witchdoctor sent a man who had allegedly broken into a shop in Chepsir trading centre chewing grass.

Kipkelion police boss Baraza Wabomba said that the shop owner hired the witchdoctor from Western Province.