Witness: Suspects in torching of woman over alleged witchcraft were her relatives

Four people on Thursday appeared before a Nairobi court and gave an account of an incident where a woman was burned to death in Machakos county four years ago for allegedly practising witchcraft.

Misakwani sublocation, Mumbuni location assistant chief Christine Mwelu told the court that she found the deceased’s body burned.

“We found fire brigade from Machakos county had already arrived and trying to put out the fire. As the officers turned her body, her hands and legs had been tied with a wire. It appeared she had been tied before the house had been set on fire," Mwelu said.

Mwelu said there was also a very big stone beside Juliana

The assistant chief told the court that the accused persons were all relatives of the deceased but he was certain there was no bad blood between them.

The son of the deceased-Timothy Ngui testified saying the accused persons used to call his mother a witch.

The court heard that they had also received death threats which they reported at the Machakos police station before she was murdered.

Ngui told trial Judge Kanyi Kimondo that the accused persons were bent on eliminating the entire family.

On the night his mother was murdered, Ngui said one of the accused persons stoned her mother before they allegedly burned her. Another attacked his brother and cut him, he bled profusely.

Those charged over the murder of Juliana Mwikali Ngui are Anthony Mbindyo Nyamai, Fredrick Munyuku Musyoki, Wilfred Mutisya Munyao, Fredrick Muasa Munyao, Anthony Mutua Mutiso, Paul Muvengei Zacharia, Fredrick Mutiso Mutua, Benson Mwanzia Munyao, Noah Mutiso Muvengei, Jackson Mutinda John and Felix Musembi Muvengei.

The particulars of the offence are that on August 1, 2020, at Kathuma Village, Misakwani sublocation, Mumbuni location in Machakos sub-county within Machakos county the accused jointly murdered Juliana Mwikali Ngui.

Another witness, Daniel Mutua, a teacher at Kyambuko Primary School in Machakos told the court that he knew the deceased. He said his sister is married in that homestead.

The husband to the sister is one Anthony Mutua, an accused person in the murder trial.

He explained to the court that in April 2020, he left his house for the canteen. On his way, he found a group of young men holding a conversation.

“The conversation revolved around a woman who had been found bewitching my homestead and that she had been tied up somewhere,” Mutua said.

Mutua said he was not aware that the woman was Juliana until later when his uncle informed him that she had been burnt to death for allegedly practising witchcraft.

Before her death, the witness said he had recorded a statement at Machakos police station regarding the whole incident.

“I wrote a statement. I said I didn’t see or hear anybody at my place.”

He also mentioned that prior to Juliana’s death, the son, Timothy visited with one Mulee a clan elder. They wanted to know if the deceased was bewitching his place but Mutua gave them the same explanation as he did to the police.

Another witness, a pastor at Bethel Baptist Church testified saying on the day Juliana was murdered, he heard deafening screams.

“I woke up and proceeded to her homestead. I found neighbors outside the gate. I also saw men armed with machetes and clubs.

Court heard that when he inquired what was happening, a slap landed on his face.

“It was Paul, one of the accused persons who slapped me. He was there at the scene,” he said.

He was able to identify him because his face was not masked. Fear engulfed him and he went back home.

The pastor told the court he decided to return at the scene once the police officers had made their way.

The police later collected the body and took it to mortuary. Thereafter a probe began.

The case was pushed to November 25.  Twenty-nine witnesses are remaining.