Kenyans accused of witchcraft then murdered for land in Kilifi

BBC Africa Eye investigates a surprising spate of aged individuals accused of witchcraft then murdered alongside Kenya’s Kilifi coast, and discovers the true motives behind the killings.

Seventy-four-year-old Tambala Jefwa stares vacantly out of his one remaining eye as his spouse, Sidi, gently removes his shirt.

“They stabbed him with a knife like this and pulled,” she says pointing to the lengthy scar stretching down from his collar bone.

She takes his head in her palms displaying what occurred in one other assault. “They needed to pull the scalp again and stitch it collectively.”

Mr Jefwa was accused of being a witch and has been attacked twice in his house, 80km (50 miles) inland from the coastal city of Malindi. The primary left him with out a watch. The second almost killed him.

The couple personal greater than 30 acres of land the place they develop maize and lift a number of chickens. There was a dispute with members of the family over boundaries. They consider this was the actual purpose Mr Jefwa was virtually killed, not that individuals genuinely believed he was a witch.

“I used to be left for lifeless. I misplaced a lot blood. I don’t know why they attacked me, however it may possibly solely be the land,” says Mr Jefwa.

Perception in witchcraft and superstition is frequent in lots of international locations.

However in elements of Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa, it may be used to justify killing aged individuals to take their land.

A report referred to as, The Aged, on Edge, by Kenyan human rights organisation Haki Yetu says one aged individual is murdered alongside the Kilifi coast each week within the identify of witchcraft. Its programme officer, Julius Wanyama, says many households consider it’s one among their very own who orders the killing.

“They use the phrase witchcraft as a justification as a result of they may get public sympathy. And folks will say: ‘If he was a witch, it’s good you could have killed him.’”

Few individuals on this area have title deeds for his or her land. And not using a will, they depend on passing it down usually by way of the household. Mr Wanyama says seven out of 10 of the killings are aged males as a result of land possession and inheritance lie with them.

“Traditionally individuals right here in Kilifi do not need [land] documentation. The one doc they’ve is the narrative from these aged individuals. That’s the reason largely males are being killed, as a result of when you kill them, then you could have eliminated the impediment,” says Mr Wanyama.

About an hour’s drive from the Jefwa household land is a rescue centre for the aged run by the charity, Malindi District Affiliation.

It’s house to round 30 aged individuals who have been attacked and are unable to return to their very own land.

Sixty-three-year-old Katana Chara, who appears to be like a lot older than his years, has been right here for round 12 months.

He needed to transfer to the centre after he was attacked with a machete in his bed room in April 2023. One hand was lower off on the wrist, the opposite simply above the elbow. He can now not work and desires assist for probably the most primary duties, from feeding and washing to dressing himself.

“I do know the one that lower my palms, however we now have by no means met head to head since,” he says.

Mr Chara was accused of being a witch over the loss of life of one other man’s youngster, however believes the actual purpose he was attacked was due to his six acres of land.

“I don’t have something to do with witchcraft. I’ve one piece of land and it’s on the seafront. It’s a large piece of land.”

Lots of Mr Chara’s members of the family had been questioned over the assault however no-one was ever prosecuted. Activist Mr Wanyama has been attempting to get justice for him.

“Only a few individuals have been charged on the allegations of killings of aged. And that’s why I believe even the important thing people who find themselves concerned in killing, they really feel they’re free.”

After months of investigating, BBC Africa Eye managed to trace down an ex-hitman who claims to have killed round 20 individuals. He says the minimal he acquired paid for every homicide was 50,000 Kenyan shillings – round $400 (£310).

“If somebody kills an previous individual, know that their household paid for it. It should be their household,” he tells BBC Africa Eye.

Pushed on how and why he thought it was his proper to take somebody’s life, he responds: “I could have completed one thing dangerous as a result of I used to be given the job and it’s me that killed, however in line with legal guidelines, in line with God, the one that despatched me is the responsible one.”

The Kenya Nationwide Fee on Human Rights introduced a doc to the United Nations in February 2023 stating: “Witch burning, killings, and bodily assaults are rife in areas corresponding to Kisii in western Kenya and Kilifi county in coastal Kenya.”

It went on to say that youthful members of the family looking for to accumulate household land is a key motivating issue behind the killings. It mentioned the assaults and killings elevated in periods of drought and famine when sources of earnings grow to be scarce.

Mr Wanyama says killings which use accusations of witchcraft to justify land grabs have grow to be a “nationwide catastrophe”

“It began as a regional problem, however now it has escalated… If we don’t deal with it, then we’re shedding our archives of the aged. These are the one dwell archives we are able to consider.”

In conventional African tradition, the aged are revered for his or her knowledge and data.

In Kilifi, it’s the reverse. Outdated individuals are so scared of changing into a goal, many dye their hair in an try and look youthful.

It’s uncommon for somebody on this area to outlive after being accused of witchcraft.

Whereas Mr Chara is protected now he lives on the rescue centre for the aged, for males like Mr Jefwa there may be actual concern that whoever tried to homicide him will come again.