A Kilifi man from Matulani village in Viragoni Sub-location is lucky to be alive after he was attacked by assailants known to him about a week ago.
The 63 year-old Kazungu Kanubi was admitted in critical condition at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital following the attack that took place on October 23.
His attackers left him for dead after inflicting deep wound cuts around his head, neck and face.
The attack according to the area village elder Karisa Katana, was based on witchcraft allegations and a land dispute of which Kanubi is a key witness.
“This is not the first time this is happening to him (Kanubi), they tried attacking him before in July but failed after his eldest wife cried for help and the assailants took off,” said Katana.
The village elder said that the matter was reported at the Bamba police station and the perpetrators were arrested before being released on cash bail.
He said that the culprits continued with threats on the man before they were re-arrested and arraigned in a Kilifi court.
“The matter was coming up in court on October 27 of which Kanubi was supposed to testify, but they attacked him on October 23 leaving him to bleed to death. He skipped the court session because he was fighting for his life in hospital,” Katana said.
He has however questioned why police have released the culprits to roam around freely and have continued issuing threats saying that they had more people in their list that they were going to ‘visit’.
“The police have been asking residents to volunteer information in criminal activities, but if the culprits are arrested and then released to come and haunt informers then people will be afraid to speak out. I for now fear for my life because I don’t know if the group is targeting me too,” he said.
He called for speedy investigations in the matter calling on the security apparatus to apprehend the suspects and arraign them in court so that justice will be served to the victim’s family.
Gray-haired elders in parts of Kilifi and Kwale counties have over the years been living in fear due to continued killings of them by locals who associate them with witchcraft.
Both the national and county governments have however scaled up efforts in ensuring that the elders are protected with Kaya elders from the coast region coming out strongly to condemn the killings.
The elders have been working with the government and community and faith based organizations to create awareness and emphasize on the need to protect the elderly members of the society.