Man,70, stoned to death over witchcraft allegations

A 70-year old man was brutally murdered on Friday at Matuga area in Kwale County by an irate mob following allegations that he was practicing witchcraft.

The deceased, identified as Athman Bamama, was attacked outside Abubakar Mixed Secondary School Mosque shortly after completing his Friday afternoon prayers.

Confirming the incident, area chief Omar Mwamaisha said he heard a commotion coming from the mosque but by the time he arrived at the scene, the man had already been killed.

“When I arrived at the scene, the assailants had already escaped, leaving Bamama lying lifeless in a pool of blood with serious head injuries,” noted Mwamaisha.

According to the chief, Abubakar Mixed Secondary School students and some area residents ganged up against the man, assaulting him with stones, clubs and other blunt objects.

One of the deceased’s relatives who sought anonymity revealed that the deceased, who used to work at the school, was recently fired by the school principal after he was accused of practicing witchcraft.

The body of the deceased has been removed to Msambweni District Hospital Mortuary as police launch investigations into the matter.