By Lydiah Nyawira
Kenya: A leading herbalist wants the Government to draw up regulations to protect Kenyans from unscrupulous individuals claiming to offer medical remedies.
Dr Jack Githae said that Kenyans’ mass fascination with healing remedies such as quail eggs is nothing new.
“A few years ago, Kenyans were fascinated by Mwarubaine, Aloe Vera, Gichai and even the Loliondo’s medicine,” Githae noted.
He said there is no law to protect the public from people who claim their products have traditional healing properties.
“As a herbalist who has knowledge in African traditional healing methods and remedies, the law still considers me a witchdoctor because of the Witchcraft Act of 1925 put in place by colonialists,” Githae said.
Ailments
He said there is no way Kenyans would promote, protect and develop African traditional herbal medicine if the National Assembly does not enact a law defining who is a herbalist.
“It’s terrible that right now anyone can claim to have knowledge to cure certain ailments and sell to Kenyans all sorts of unsubstantiated claims,” said Githae, who was speaking during an International Conference on African Liberation efforts at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DKUT).
Dr Frederick Waweru of DKUT said that the institution would establish a botanical garden for indigenous medicinal plants.