Tanzanian witchdoctor makes Molo 'cattle rustler' eat grass

 Medics declined to admit him saying it was not a medical condition.

The witchdoctor called for the suspect to surrender to no avail Ironically, the man eating grass is a member of the Nyumba Kumi initiative

Tired of calling upon local authorities to curb the cattle rustling menace in Moto area on the outskirts of Molo Town, a fed up local resorted to witchcraft to stop the menace.

According to residents, David Omayo enlisted the services of a Tanzanian witchdoctor based in Molo Town after his cow went missing. “People had been complaining about animal theft for too long. Omayo decided to hire a witchdoctor whom he paid Sh10,000 to help find the thief after several searches in the area yielded nothing,” said Robert Mogusu, a resident.

The arrival of the Tanzanian drew a sizeable crowd of curious locals who watched as he performed the rituals. “The witchdoctor had proved reliable, seeing as he had helped catch a livestock thief not long ago in a neighbouring locale. Curious locals milled the incident to see how he does his thing,” said Mogusu.

In an interesting turn of events, the medicine man announced that one of the thieves was in the crowd, demanding that he surrenders. After the thief failed to step forward, the witchdoctor made a concoction and diluted it with water in a basin and demanded those present to wash their hands in it.

“Some locals took the challenge, while others walked away, fearing that the worse would have happened to them for being involved in witchcraft,” said Mogusu, adding that locals dispersed after the ritual, with the faith healer promising the thief would own up before end of the day.

True to form, the day did not end. A local, said to have participated in the ritual, was reported to be crawling and eating grass not far from Omayo’s homestead. Oddly, the man eating grass turned out to be a respected local who is part of the Nyumba Kumi neighbourhood watch in the area.

Embarrassed at the turn of events, locals called upon the offended man to get back the witchdoctor to reverse the witchcraft. The medicine man demanded Sh50,000 for the job, which the locals could not raise.

After police were informed of the incident, they took the man to Molo Level Four Hospital for medical attention. The medics, however, declined to admit him, saying it was not a medical condition.

The shocked residents are reported to have begged the witchdoctor, through Omayo, in vain. He demanded Sh15,000 down payment to restore the suspect’s speech, but still the amount was too high for his family. The suspect, however, recovered after Sh7,500 was paid to the traditional healer to fix him.

It is not clear if the man will be forced to pay for the stolen animal together with others he is believed to have rustled the with, seeing as no other evidence admissible in a court has been gathered.

Locals have, however, called upon officers at Anti-Stock Theft Unit camp established along the Molo-Olenguruone road, a route through which the stolen animals are suspected to be transported to Mau forest, to take action and stop the theft.