- Kahindi Tsuma Ngolo, was arraigned before Malindi Resident Magistrate, Irene Tama.
- He denied assassinating the character of Bendera Thomas, his neighbour, by linking her to witchcraft.
A man has been charged in a Malindi Court for calling his neighbour a witch, a slur in Kilifi County that is akin to pronouncing a death sentence against whoever it is directed.
Kahindi Tsuma Ngolo, was arraigned before Malindi Resident Magistrate, Irene Tama.
He denied assassinating the character of Bendera Thomas, his neighbour, by linking her to witchcraft.
The Court heard that on October 13, 2023, at Mabuani village, Gede location in Malindi Sub-county, without reasonable excuse, Chuma accused Bendera of being the reason his plans were not succeeding, due to his alleged witchcraft.
He, however, denied the Charge against him, contending that he was not present at the said location, where the complainant alleged that she had been called a witch.
“Your honour, I don’t agree with the Charges because I was not around on the said date that Bendera claims to have been called a witch," he said.
"However, on November 18, 2023 police officers came to my residence and took me into custody,” said Kahindi.
Chuma, who has been in remand since his first appearance in court after failing to raise a Sh80,000 bond or Sh40,000 Cash Bail, was put on his defence after the court declared that he had a case to answer.
Instead of defending himself, the man jumped into mitigation, pleading with the court to have mercy on him, saying he was the sole breadwinner to his family and that his continued incarceration would worsen his family’s situation.
“I have four children, a wife and my mother and they all depend on me. I kindly ask the court to consider me and my family,” he said.
The Magistrate adjourned the matter until, Thursday, April 18, 2024, when she will make the judgement.
Cases of elderly persons being murdered in cold blood on allegations of witchcraft have been on the rise in the Coast region, especially Kilifi County.
Efforts by police and National Government Administrative Officers, to eradicate the vice have run to nought, as many suspects, mostly close family members of the victims, repeatedly say ‘simanya’ (I do not know), thus frustrating investigators.