Police arrest 10 suspects linked to elderly killings over witchcraft claims

In the ongoing fight against the rising number of murders targeting elderly individuals in Kilifi County, police have arrested at least 10 suspects linked to the crimes.

Kilifi County Commander Fatuma Hadi confirmed the arrests, refuting claims that law enforcement had been passive in addressing the issue.

Hadi addressed the allegations after some local elders accused the police of neglecting their duty.

"We have arrested several people, and their cases are currently ongoing. Some suspects have already been sentenced," she stated.

The police have noted that many victims do not report these crimes because, in many cases, the perpetrators are family members.

According to a report by the Haki Yetu, a human rights organisation, one elderly person is murdered every week along the Kilifi coast over accusations of witchcraft.

Julius Wanyama, the programme officer at Haki Yetu, highlighted a troubling trend where families use witchcraft allegations to justify the murders.

“They use the word witchcraft as a justification because they will get public sympathy, Wanyama said. "People say If he was a witch, it is good you have killed him," he added.

Despite these grave concerns, very few suspects have been charged in connection with these crimes.

"Inadequate response"

Elders in Kilifi have voiced frustration over what they perceive as the government's inadequate response to the violence linked to witchcraft accusations.

Secretary General of the Malindi District Cultural Association Joseph Mwarandu called on the government to prioritise this to eradicate the prevalent threat.

Mwarandu lamented the dire situation faced by many elders who now live in fear of being killed.

“The crimes have persisted because political, religious, and administrative leaders have failed to raise their voices against it,” he said adding that instead, they have left the fight to cultural organisations.

He added that the problem is worsened by poor investigations and a lack of cooperation from affected families.

“These factors have led to many cases being thrown out of court for lack of evidence,” Mwarandu noted.

He emphasised that the killing of elderly persons over alleged witchcraft practices has evolved into a significant security issue that requires a more coordinated response from all sectors of society.

“This problem is getting out of hand because we are not hearing the voices of everybody. We do not have the voice of political, government, and religious leaders,” Mwarandu said.

He stressed, that this is no longer a cultural problem but a security matter.

Mwarandu criticised the growing trend of using murder as a means of economic gain.

“It is unfortunate that we are giving birth to many murderers who are now available for hire. They have taken this crime as an income-generating activity,” he added.