KISII, Kenya, Oct 26- The Kisii County Government has formed a task force that is tasked with unraveling the mystery behind alleged cases of witchcraft, that have resulted in tens of killings over the years.
The recent killings occurred a week ago when four elderly residents accused of being witches were brutally killed and their bodies burnt.
Of the four were an 80-year-old grandma and a mentally unwell woman according to relatives and police.
With the killings, Kisii Governor James Ongwae on Tuesday said the 14-member task force will come up with a lasting solution.
They are set to conclude their mandate in a month’s time, after which a report will be handed over to the County Governor.
“The Task Force comprising of various stakeholders will look into the extent of beliefs in witchcraft, causes of extrajudicial killings, security of senior citizens and challenges facing youths, who perpetuate the vice,” the Governor said.
The October 17 killings happened in Nyagonyi village in Marani Sub-County.
Four suspects accused of killing the three women and a man have since been arrested and arraigned in court.
They will take plea to murder-related charges on October 29.
The victims were identified as Jemimah Nyang’ate Ouru, Agenes Moraa Ototo, Sabina Mayaka and Sigara Onkware.
Also Read: Detectives Sent To Kisii After 3 Elderly Women, Man Accused Of Being Witches Were Killed
The findings of the report will also be shared with the National Government according to the Governor.
“It will help us put in place mitigation measures that will help curb the vice,” he said.
The task force members include Edward Begi, Samwel Bosire, Daniel Magutu, Kennedy Anyieni, Dr. Richard Onkware, Magdalene Mwebi, Albert Oisebe, Obino Nyambane, Florence Abuya, and Vincent Sagwe.
Others are Catherine Nyamato, Kevin Mamboleo, Lawyer Haroun Ndubi, Marani, Dennis Ombachi, Marani Ward Representative and Kerubo Abuya.
According to police statistics, 150 elderly people have been killed on allegations of witchcraft in the last two years in Kenya.
Other than in Kisii County, such cases were prevalent in Kilifi County.
To arrest the situation, state and non-state actors have come up with a myriad of initiatives to sensitize community members against the vice and also enhance the police-public relationship.
Also Read: ‘She Is Dead’: The Pain Of Watching Mother Accused Of Being A Witch Killed
One such effort is through the REINVENT programme, which rolled out an innovative approach to community policing and accountability forums called SEMA Clinic(s). The programme is funded by the United Kingdom.
The Sema clinics are open forums that bring together the police and the community members to engage in dialogue on security issues that affect the area.
The messages are relayed in various ways including role-plays where the Police are actual cast in the plays.
This is seen as a perfect way of curtailing retrogressive beliefs that kept the elderly at risk of killings due to allegations of witchcraft.
Also Reda: Faces Of The Men Accused Of Killing Elderly In Kisii over Witchcraft Claims
Through joint role-plays with the community art groups, they have been able to create awareness against a number of societal ills increasing the confidence in the Police.
“They no longer run away whenever they see police vehicles and as a result, this has increased the number of people who report cases to the police station,” authorities in Kilifi told Shahidi News.
Through the programme, the killings in the County according to police statistics have drastically reduced by an average of 60 percent.
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