The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
Women are likely to seek the services of a witchdoctor when their marriages go south, unlike men who will take to alcohol to forget the problem.
This is irrespective of their status, class or educational background.
The Nairobian learnt that most clients who stream to witchdoctors’ ‘offices’ are women, mostly the married ones.
Speaking to The Nairobian, Jamal Kizanaga, a Ugandan witchdoctor who operates from Afya Centre and Ngara, said most of his clients are female politicians, businesspeople, lawyers and MCAs.
He however reveal their names because of confidentiality and trust.
“Most of the women who come to see me have marital problems. They come mostly seeking my ‘imported’ medicine from Uganda and Tanzania. I charge between Sh1,000 and Sh2,000,” he said, adding that, “Whenever I solve their problems, they are really happy. They come to me when they are really desperate.”
Alice Akinyi is a rich widow in the transport business and has sought the services of a witchdoctor, not once. She told The Nairobian that she believes her success comes from daktari whom she met after her husband died in 1995.
“My husband died after a short illness. My mother took me to a witchdoctor who revealed to me what had killed him. The witchdoctor was right and I started seeking his services ,” she disclosed.
Through the help of the witchdoctor, her business has grown and she now has a fleet of 16 trailers, seven lorries and four buses.
What exactly drives women to seek these services?
Psychologist Faith Atsango from Malek Counselling says women tend to focus on other ‘sources of comfort’ because they have a low risk preference.
“Risky things scare women. The need to be sheltered from risk push them to look for something to put their faith in to gain protection from danger. So, if a bad thing happens, they can justify it by saying it’s either because they didn’t pray or they didn’t go to a witchdoctor,” explains Nafula.
University of Nairobi sociologist Ken Ouko says that, “Women are undoubtedly stronger than men, but at the same time, they usually look for something to believe and pin their hopes on. That’s either a higher power in religion, or a dark power in witchcraft.”
