Unknown gunmen kill Kilifi witchdoctor

KENYA: Police in Rabai, Kilifi County are investigating the mystery killing of a 75 year old man known to be a witchdoctor.

Rabai OCPD John Masila said the deceased was walking at to his daughter's home at around 9.00pm when unknown men shot him in the head with a gun on Thursday.

"Reports show that the deceased who is purported to be a witchdoctor was going to his daughter's place in Mwele Rabai but when he reached a certain bush, unknown people who were trailing him shot him in the head and disappeared," said Masila Friday.

He said local residents and police heard gun shots and when they reached the bushy road, the saw the grandfather lying in a pool of blood.

Masila said the motive of the assailants is not known and police are trying to conduct investigations in a bid to unearth the mysterious death.

Lately old men in Kilifi have been targeted for death as some locals who associate them with black magic and witchcraft alleged to be causing misfortunes to the area.

Some old men said to be witchdoctors have also been associated to be members of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) to which they administer oaths for new members. They are also known to offer "protective charms" to other members.

Such witchdoctors have on several occasions been arrested by the police for being members of an illegal group.