Spurned man turns to night running for revenge

By Anthony Ngira

A man who had formed a habit of sneaking into a neighbour’s home and causing disturbance is nursing serious wounds after the homeowner nabbed him and gave him a thorough beating.

The man was reportedly caught ‘bewitching’ the homestead at midnight.

The incident, which attracted a horde of curious neighbours, took place last week in a village two kilometres from Bungoma town.

According to the homeowner, Peter Masinde, the man was in the habit of intruding into his compound in the middle of the night carrying all manner of paraphernalia with the intention of bewitching his home.

The alleged witch would throw small stones or sand on the iron roofed main house all night long causing lack of sleep to its occupants. At other times, he would uproot plants from the family’s compound and push them into the main house through an opening between the wall and the roof. Immediately thereafter, he would throw sand mixed with wood ash and small insects into the house using the same opening.

Attempts to nab him had proved futile as he quickly took off immediately the door to the main house was opened.

In the morning the family would find the floor of the house and furniture covered with dirt and paraphernalia.

Prominent witchdoctor

Though Masinde had complained to neighbours and the area chief, no action was taken allegedly because they all feared the supernatural.

Instead, the family was advised to seek the services of a prominent witchdoctor in Bungoma town.

Masinde and his family decided to give the offender physical punishment instead.

Armed with a slasher and a torch, Masinde hid in a thicket near his home when darkness covered the village. When it struck midnight, the so-called witch made his appearance. He was naked and began throwing stones and uprooted plants which landed on the roof of the main house. He then giggled and made a lap round the house mumbling unintelligibly.

Crude weapons

It is then that the agitated Masinde made his ambush. Caught unawares, the witch tried to gather his items and make a run for it but it was too late. His attacker pounced on him and wrestled him to the ground. Sensing defeat, the intruder let out a shriek calling for help. Neighbours answered the call armed with crude weapons.

"I have children just as you do. Please spare me," the man pleaded.

But Masinde would not relent. Instead he threw aside the slasher and started delivering heavy blows on the now bleeding man. He accused him of causing his family sleepless nights and promised to pay dearly for his sins.

Chanting "atiwe tire" some of the neighbours joined in the beating.

They blamed the man for the deteriorating security in the neighbourhood. Calm was only restored when the area chief arrived at the scene accompanied with some Administration Police officers.

Asked to explain himself, the semi-conscious man said he was bewitching Masinde’s home after the family refused to allow him to marry their eldest daughter, who attends a public university.

His plea for forgiveness was ignored and the chief instructed his officers to take him to a nearby police station.