A boda boda rider in Kajiado dreamed of becoming a rich man and he saved and saved, but there was never enough.
He resorted to witchcraft, paid and paid, sold his property and lost everything.
The boda boda rider told a Loitoktok law court how he lost more than Sh500,000 through what he claimed was witchcraft.
DM told principal magistrate Judicaster Nthuku that between September 3, 2021, and March 31 this year in Loitoktok town, he was fraudulently tricked by Mwaima Mbwana Kiunguni to part with the money.
DM said the accused had told him to pay Sh543,200, an amount that would be multiplied to make him a multi-millionaire.
The complainant said that on September 3, 2021, his wife, JW, convinced him there was a very powerful 'witch-doctor' in Nairobi. She wanted the sorcerer to talk to them in Kajiado and urged her husband to send him Sh2,000 for fare.
Later that day, the 'witch-doctor' arrived and DM met him at Airstrip area in Loitokitok before escorting him to a place where he would spend the night.
The following day, the 'witch-doctor' told DM to take him to Tarakea on the Kenya-Tanzania border to meet a 'doctor' friend, which he did.
DM said that on September 5, 2021, the 'witch-doctor' called and told him to send Sh12,000, which he did.
He then met the 'witch-doctor' who performed magic. Then DM said he saw a huge pile of cash amounting to Sh300 million.
The complainant said he was to take five per cent of the money to church as an offering and give five percent to the accused.
But he said the money developed wings and mysteriously flew away.
Later on, DM said he withdrew Sh152,000 that he wrapped in his underwear and placed under his bed. He then took the money to the 'witch-doctor' who was to take the money to the mosque for prayers.
Then, DM said, the accused took him to a cave in Mombasa where he heard a voice telling him an additional Sh400,000 was needed from him.
When the complainant had no more money to send to the 'witch-doctor' after selling his property, the 'witch-doctor' went missing and stopped picking his phone calls.
JW, the complainant's wife, admitted she also had been sending money to the accused whenever her husband instructed her to do so.
Finally, after the accused cut communication, they reported the matter to the Loitokitok police station on July 13 this year.
Police officers investigated the whereabouts of the accused, a Tanzanian, and arrested him on July 17.
He was taken to Loitokitok police station before being arraigned. The accused remained silent and did not enter a plea.
Principal magistrate Nthuku jailed him for one year for fraudulently obtaining money from the complainant and one month for being in Kenya illegally. The sentences will run concurrently.
The court ordered the accused repatriated to Tanzania after serving his sentence.
(Edited by V. Graham)
