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Politicians turn to Tanzanian witchdoctors to win elections


Politicians from Migori County are trooping to Tanzania to seek the services of witchdoctors in a bid to win the August elections.

The aspirants for various seats are travelling to Tarime and Mwanza towns to seek intervention of the “seers” ahead of the polls.

A spot check by the Nation revealed that the politicians believe that the witchdoctors can make them beat their opponents in the contests.

“Business is very good whenever Kenyans approach elections. Their aspirants usually come for our services and they pay whatever we tell them,” said Mr Mohammed Yaya, a witchdoctor based in Tarime.

PAYMENTS UPFRONT

“They fulfil all the requirements and they make payments upfront,” he added.

Aides of various politicians said their bosses seems to trust the “actions” of the witchdoctors.

“We visited one in Mwanza recently and my boss paid Sh150,000 for the service. I was particularly against it but some of our campaign committee members encouraged him to seek the intervention of the witchdoctors,” said the aide who asked not to be named because it might expose his boss.

Migori to Mwanza is a four –hour drive while to Tarime is only 50 minutes away by a car.

The Nation further established that even politicians who are self-confesed Christians are also seeking the help of the witchdoctors.

Mr Yaya said their charges are determined by the political post a client is seeking although the rates are negotiable.

CHARMS

Only last week, Tigania East MP Aburi Mpuri went public with claims that Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi will clinch the gubernatorial seat with the assistance of charms.

Mr Mpuri may have made just a casual observation, but one cannot rule out what political candidates can do to win.

The use of witchdoctors is as old as independent Kenya’s democracy and cases have been reported in all parts of the country during the electioneering period.

Former Cabinet minister Musikari Kombo lost his Webuye parliamentary seat in November 1994 after a three-judge bench found him guilty of an election offence for engaging in witchcraft practices.