Detectives in Embu East sub-county have opened a probe into the death of an elderly woman who was lynched for allegedly practicing witchcraft.
Alice Kaguna, 77, was reportedly beaten to death by irate locals on Tuesday morning; her body was dumped by the roadside at Gatumbi market, a few metres from her home in Runyenjes.
Witnesses reportedly told Citizen TV that Kaguna was found burning her underwear outside her neighbour’s gate in the wee hours of the morning.
The said neighbour, Daniel Mwaniki, said his wife woke him up at around 3 am following a commotion outside their gate.
Mwaniki reportedly found a group of people arguing with the elderly woman. He claimed she threw hot water at him, burning his hand.
“I was astonished when I went out only to find my neighbour burning her underwear outside my gate…she splashed hot water on my right hand, leaving me with a huge burn,” he said.
Mwaniki said he went to a nearby police station to report the incident. When he returned, he found the mob had lynched Alice Kaguna and demolished her house over claims of practicing witchcraft.
According to area locals the deceased and Mwaniki had boundary disputes, which they suspect could have led the woman to “practice witchcraft”.
Confirming the incident, Embu East Police Commander Emmanuel Okanda condemned the mob that killed the elderly woman.
He urged locals to provide information that would bring to book those responsible for the killing.
The body of the deceased was moved to the Kyeni mission hospital mortuary as further investigations continue.
