Court 'jails' rainmaker to protect him from lynching
When he appeared before Resident Magistrate Emily Nyakundi, he pleaded guilty to the charge.
What you need to know:
- In the coastal region, there is widespread suspicion that the elderly in society practice witchcraft.
A rainmaker accused of witchcraft in Ronge village, Taita Taveta County will spend two months in custody after a court moved to keep him behind bars to escape the public's wrath.
Mr Duncan Masaka, 71, who is also a licenced traditional herbalist, was imprisoned for his safety by a Wundanyi court after he was arraigned for causing nuisance by walking around naked.
The elderly man was rescued by police after he was attacked by villagers a fortnight ago over accusations of sorcery.
Mr Masaka escaped death narrowly after the mob descended on him at Kishau area when he was found naked in someone's compound.
When he appeared before Resident Magistrate Emily Nyakundi, he pleaded guilty to the charge.
A pre-sentence report presented before Ms Nyakundi stated that the elderly man has been a rainmaker and tradition herbalist since 1987.
It also stated that he has been working with the county government where he is consulted on various cultural matters.
He is also a retired forest guard who worked for 17 years.
The report states that Mr Masaka pleaded for leniency saying he was drunk. He also claims members of the public undressed him and falsely accused him of practicing witchcraft.
The magistrate said that having keenly looked at the report, the elderly man should be put in custody for protection after angry residents threatened to lynch him.
Suspicion
In the coastal region, there is widespread suspicion of witchcraft against the elderly in society.
Cases of sorcery suspects being lynched are rampant with most targets being old men and women. Many often associate them with mysterious deaths and misfortune.
Recently, a man killed his father for allegedly practicing witchcraft.
He is now facing murder charges at the Voi Law Courts.
