Foreign witch doctors banned from county

Taita Taveta, Kenya: Foreign witch doctors have been banned from operating in Taita Taveta county, authorities have said.

Governor John Mruttu also warned residents against harbouring the witch doctors, saying they risk prosecution.

Scores of people have been killed at coast on suspicion that they were practising witchcraft with Taita Taveta and Kilifi counties being the most affected.

"Some have been coming on invitation by from local residents. We urge teachers, parents and churches to take the lead in the fight against such outdated cultural beliefs," said Mr Mruttu.

The ban comes days after the county government held a meeting with the County Commissioner Mr Oningoi Ole Sosio and resolved that traditional witch doctors would not be allowed to operate.

They also agreed that anyone found harbouring, or facilitating their movement would be arrested and prosecuted.

He noted that witch doctors from a neighbouring country had secretly been coming to the region and causing fear among the local community.

 Awareness campaign

In a recent incident, a family was rendered homeless at Sangenyi village in Wundanyi division after angry villagers who accused them of witchcraft torched their home.

Last month, a middle aged man was killed in Werugha in an incident linked to witchcraft.

A report by Ipsos carried out last year revealed that Taita Taveta county was leading in terms of witchcraft, while 11 per cent of the residents at the coast still believed in the tradition.

According to the research, eight per cent of residents in Kilifi county believed in witchcraft. Kwale was third with seven per cent while Mombasa had 1 per cent.

Mr Mruttu said widespread belief in witchcraft, sale and consumption of illicit brews and drugs and persistent human-wildlife conflicts are some of the major development obstacles in the region.

He challenged the provincial administration and religious leaders to embark on intensive awareness campaigns to educate residents on the need to abandon outmoded cultural practices.