Kenyans Say Fear Of Witchcraft Discourages Them From Donating Cash In Rural Homes: "Better Mpesa"

• Kenyan town and city dwellers say they exercise caution not to fall prey to the antics of supposed village witches who are in their numbers
• It emerges that the radical natives in the upcountry areas use cash donations and other goodies to cast spells on the benefactors
• To avert such, those willing to give, but cautious enough, prefer mobile money to direct contact with those believed to undertake black magic

Eli Odaga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

For a time now, a belief has been propagated that a considerable chunk of the radical natives in Kenyan rural areas are wicked and possess anti-progress black magic.

The insecure urbanites are under the illusion that the fellows back in the village are envious of their supposed successes and thus they (envious villagers) would go out of their way to ruin things.

It emerges that the magic to inhibit city and town dwellers from progressing is relayed in various forms, cash being one of them.

A question was posed as to why this is the case.

It was also bared that not only cash is preferred by the conspirers; foodstuffs, clothing or any other tangible donations could be turned to the detriment of the benefactor.

According to those holding dear the assertion, those affected, among other unpleasant eventualities, lose their jobs, fail to account for the finances, or even worse, become sick mysteriously and die.

The plotters in some instances happen to be close family members, they say.

Here are a few reactions from Kenyans;

@Heart Beating: "Others don't want you to succeed. especially your cousins and aunties."

@Judith Ingumba: "In our home in Kakamega, try dishing out money and the next thing is you go back in a different vehicle from the one you went with."

@Laccas Marriotts: "You will be bewitched such that when you back to work you are fired or even made to forget everything about it."

@Prince Victor: "They will kill you with witchcraft. Just use MPesa."

@Stevoo Kithii: "This is the time the star is taken, my friend."

@Danne Mankuli: " What happened to me I will live to remember. My life has remained so to date."

Some quarters however hold that such are unfounded superstitions which ought not to be taken seriously.

The antagonists in the question say witchcraft has been dislocated by the advancement of technology and the proliferation of religion and Western civilisation.