MIJIKENDA Kaya elders have set up two centres in Kilifi county to rescue elderly people. There has been a wave of lynching the elderly in the region over witchcraft accusations.
Mijikenda Kaya Elders Council secretary Joseph Mwarandu yesterday said there is a centre at Kaya Godoma in Mrima wa Ndege.
Speaking in Kilifi town, Mwarandu said they have liaised with the county commissioner’s office to ensure the elderly are protected.
“We have been compelled to set up rescue centres to cushion innocent elders who suffer in the hands of the youth on baseless allegations of witchcraft,” he said.
Cases of killings targeting elders with grey hair have been on the increase in Kilifi county. Mwarandu said there are more than 60 elderly people at Mrima wa Ndege.
“We have a second centre that we will not disclose for now following threats and fear of attack we have experienced with the Mrima wa Ndege centre,” he said.
Mwarandu said they have been receiving information about targeted elders before such incidents occur and have been acting promptly.
“In most of the time we receive information about elders at risk and we have been moving to rescue them through taking them to these centres,” he said.
He said within the centres the elders will be playing the role of custodians of the culture in conjunction with council in a bid to conserve culture.
County police commander James Kithuka has challenged local leaders to sensitize their people on the need to have elders in the community as he blames the killings on land inheritance wrangles.
“These leaders need to go and sensitize their people on the importance of having leaders in the society and stop blaming the police. This is not an issue of insecurity because family members and normally involved in these killings,” he said last week.