Magarini Sub County, Kilifi County, continues to grapple with the grim reality of elderly killings linked to witchcraft accusations, with five reported cases in September alone.
These alarming statistics were highlighted during the local celebrations of the International Day for Older Persons, which took place in Gongoni, Magarini Sub County.
Consolata Machuko, the Kilifi County Social Services Officer in the Department of Social Protection and Senior Citizens’ Affairs, stressed the importance of political will to combat these heinous crimes.
“Political goodwill is crucial if we are to eradicate this vice. Communities need to be mobilized and empowered to protect their elderly members,” Machuko stated.
She emphasized that youth sensitization campaigns must be ramped up to educate younger generations on respecting and caring for their elderly relatives.
The event in Magarini coincided with global celebrations of the International Day for Older Persons held in Geneva, Switzerland, this year.
The theme of the day focused on challenging age-related stigma and advocating for policies that protect the rights and dignity of senior citizens.
Treeza Auma, Executive Director of the Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Action aid (PESAID), called on communities to come together and challenge harmful narratives around aging.
“I call upon the community to unite in challenging the stigma surrounding aging and to advocate for policies that protect our seniors,” Auma said during the event.
Auma further noted that the issue of elderly killings was not only a cultural problem but also one driven by greed, with daughters-in-law contributing to the crimes.
“In some cases, daughters-in-law are implicated in the killings of their parents-in-law to facilitate the inheritance of property by their husbands,” Auma revealed.
In a call for stronger collaboration, Julius Wanyama of Haki Yetu urged communities and local authorities to work together in prosecuting perpetrators.
“We need collective action from the community, government, and non-governmental organizations to ensure that justice is served and that the lives of elderly citizens are protected,” Wanyama said.
Edward Kazungu, spokesperson for the Malindi District Cultural Association (MADCA), which runs a safe home for survivors of witchcraft allegations, shared that ongoing efforts are being made to reconcile 39 survivors with their families.
Kazungu expressed hope that through continued dialogue and community outreach, the reintegration of these elderly citizens would be successful.
As part of its ongoing efforts, PESAID a key actor on matters elderly, is actively involved in raising awareness on the importance of protecting elderly persons and is advocating for stronger community systems that safeguard their well-being across five counties.
These are Kilifi, Mombasa,Siaya,Kajiado Nairobi, Kisii and Migori.
IAN BYRON