Police are holding a witch hunter for allegedly conning poor villagers of Ksh 650, 000 by promising to bust all witches in Mkongani area, Matuga Sub-County, Kwale County.
Confirming the arrest, local Assistant County Commissioner Benson Maisori said the suspect was arrested on Sunday at Mkomba village in the process of performing cleansing rituals.
The commissioner said the suspect was found at the home of an old man whom the villagers accused of being a witch.
“The matter was reported to us after the victim, Mzee Abdallah Nyangasi, sought refuge at Burani Police Post, fearing he would be subjected to a mob justice. We immediately sent our officers to the area and arrested the con,” he said.
According to Maisori, the suspect has been collecting money from the residents with each village contributing Ksh 50, 000.
Locals believed Mboni would help them expose witches whom they accused of undermining education and local development.
Maisori said the suspect, identified as Omar Mboni, would be charged with endangering the lives of the elderly people, once investigations were over.
Many elderly people in the area were perceived to be witches and were often killed on allegations of being sorcerers.
“Witch hunting is prohibited as it poses a threat to lives of older people. In fact, the so called witch busters incite violence and must be dealt with in accordance with the law,” said Maisori.
The suspect had earlier performed rituals in Mzinji and Kitengelewa before moving to Nyangasi’s home where the law caught up with him.
The hunter claimed to have dug out witchcraft paraphernalia including an evil pot and a tortoise that was buried at the old man’s home.
Some of the villagers are demanding Mboni be released or else they will hold demonstrations if their call is not heeded by the police.
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