Nyamira family seeks justice after house torched on suspicion of witchcraft

A family from Konate village in Nyamira County is seeking justice after their home was set ablaze and crops destroyed by unknown people following allegations of engaging in witchcraft.

According to neighbours, 60-year-old Joyce Abwaya had allegedly confessed to practising witchcraft, with the family insisting that the granny was framed due to a land dispute.

The incident has sparked fear of a resurgence of violence targeting the elderly in Nyamira sparked by land disputes.

Citizen TV visited the scene where a cloud of smoke billowing from the houses showed the terror meted on the family of Samuel Morara in the wee hours of Thursday.

“Mimi nilikuja saa nne nikapata nyumba inaungua manguo zilichomeka, kitambulisho ilichomeka, certficate za watoto sina...yaani ata sina chochote...naomba tafadhali nisaidike juu ata sina chochote ya kusema," Morara narrated.

It is reported that a gang of armed youth who had tried to invade the home during the day stormed the compound at around 1am on Thursday morning and torched the house while cutting down crops.

Neighbours claim that Morara’s wife, Joyce Abwaya had confessed to engaging in witchcraft.

“Kuna mtu aliuziwa ploti hapa chini alafu akajenga nyumba na imekataa kukwisha ati mtu ameshika sasa alikuwa anasema ati huyu mama ndio ameshika hiyo nyumba yake imekataa kuendelea,” Peter Mobegi, a resident, said.

Confirming the incident, Siamani Assistant Chief Tessline Moraa indicated that five people have so far been arrested, with area residents expressing fear of a resurgence of violence towards the elderly.

“Wacha hii kitu tena isitendeke siku ingine kuchukua sheria mikononi...kama kuna shida kujeni mlete maneno kwa ofisi tushauriane. Ni kitendo cha usiku, kuna suspects tayari wameshikwa japo sijui wamefika wangapi lakini uchunguzi unaendelea,” Moraa said.

“Sasa maskini inachangia...wakiona mtu ni mchafu jinsi anaonekana katika poverty yake wanamwita mchawi...vile huyu mzee mnamuona ndio maana pia anakaa hivo...sasa wenye tunavaa mzuri tunaanza kusema ati hawa ni wachawi lakini isikuwe hivo,” Carren Nyachieng’a, a resident, added.

The family has now sought refuge at the Nyamira Police Station as they wait for the wheels of justice to spin in their favour.