Caption: Last year, a farmhand in Katyethoka village, Kitui Central, went into a trance and ate grass and leaves after he allegedly stole Sh4,000 from his master.[Photo/hivisasa.com]
Residents of Matinyani village in Kitui West were over the weekend treated to a rare and shocking incident after two suspected burglars went into a trance and started munching grass.
This was after the area business community sought the services of a witchdoctor following rampant shop breakings in Matinyani shopping center by a suspected gang of five men.
More than four shops were reportedly broken into over the last two months and cash stolen alongside other commodities.
“We got tired of the increasing theft since the police were yet to trace and apprehend the shop breakers and decided to bring in a traditionalist to assist in unmasking the culprits. The witchdoctor made enchantments and administered a concoction to the residents then promised results by nightfall,” said the market chairman Leonard Kitema.
True to the witchdoctor's word, two of the suspects, who could not be immediately identified, became disoriented and turned herbivorous the same evening, according to Mr Kitema.
“One lay prostrate and started feeding on grass while the other persistently clambered the walls of shops previously broken into in what people believed to be a re-enactment of their criminal activities,” explained Augustus Mwendwa, a resident.
“They also began gibbering and nipping at their fingertips. None seemed to be conscious of their actions,” he added.
A large crowd immediately gathered around the bedazzled men to witness the rare and bizarre scene.
A section of the mob wanted to lynch the suspects but the police swiftly rescued them and escorted them to Matinyani police station for safe custody pending investigation into the bizarre incident, Mr Mwendwa said.
The criminals are said to have gained entry into the business premises by ripping the roofs open before using a rope to lower themselves in.
“We wondered if the thieves would descend from the skies and disappear into thin air with our cash and goods because they left behind no clues except the gaping roofs,” lamented Kitema.
“It is after lengthy consultations that we resolved to seek the help of a witch doctor to help us expose the wolves among us and have them pay dearly for their criminal acts. We are relieved that our move has borne fruits,” he added.
He said families of the enchanted men must pay a “fine” of Sh40,000 within a 24-hour window for the traditionalist to reverse the spell or else their kin will suffer grave consequences.
The market chairman could not, however, specify what will happen to the spellbound men if the conditions were not met but only said “it will be unfortunate.”
Interestingly, some of the residents opined that the men’s ordeal would be served as a stern warning to other criminals out there who have been terrorising the community.
Last year, a farmhand in Katyethoka village, Kitui Central, went into a trance and ate grass and leaves after he allegedly stole Sh4,000 from his master.