Police arrest 3 men over witchcraft and fraud

Three men have been arrested in Bomet Town for practising witchcraft and defrauding residents.

Ugandan Wazisi Swaipu, his friend from Siaya County, Juma Otieno Odongo alias Dr Mumbia, and a third man arrived in town on Monday and were arrested next to Highway Hotel in Bomet town after being in the town for two weeks.

CHARMS

The three were accused of being in possession of boxes and bags containing charms, various paraphernalia and posters, some of which had been pinned across the town.

The identity of the third man was not immediately revealed.

Police said residents complained that the three were defrauding locals with claims that they had love potions and powers to enhance male virility, make people wealthy, help trap thieves and reunite men with wives who had left them.

The accused also had small portraits of men and women which they gave to their clients to choose the type of partner they admired, and promised to connect them to the people they chose.

CHARGED

Deputy County Criminal Investigation Officer Joseph Thuvi said police were investigating how much money the three men defrauded residents in the three weeks they had been in Bomet Town.

The police boss said only a few of the victims were willing to record statements.

Police suspect the three men lured locals using pseudonyms.

The three were charged in court on Tuesday afternoon, and they denied the charges before Bomet Principal Magistrate Pamela Odhiambo.

They were charged with practising witchcraft without a permit, but the Ugandan faced an additional charge of unlawfully being in Kenya. 

The Ugandan was denied bond. The other two men granted Sh50,000 bond each with a surety of a similar amount. 

They could not raise the bond and were placed under custody until January 18, 2018.