Dad, just go to hell!

Retirement is a time to relax after years of toil. But not so for old people in Kilifi, writes JOSEPH MASHA
Sophocoles said that no man loves life like him that’s growing old. But the elderly in Kilifi County have no reason to love life. Their sons and daughters want them dead as soon as possible.
At 76, Mzee Ponda Changa has been forced to leave his home at Kibaoni village in Kilifi District to avoid being killed by his son who accuses him of being a witch.
Changa says he left home eight months ago and is now staying in Malanga, Ganze District, where he found a refuge following attempts by one of his sons to take his life.

Elders ponder their next move at Kaya Godoma in Ganze, Kilifi County. Old people with grey hair and red eyes are targeted for killing over accusations of witchcraft. Photos: Joseph Masha/Standard

"My son has attempted to kill me several times. He once beat me seriously outside a chief’s office in Takaungu on claims that I bewitched his sister. I decided to flee to save my life," said Changa.
The old man, however, says his son’s allegation that he is a witch is just a disguise to kill him so that he can inherit his property.
He says the son has so far taken the title deed for the six-acre piece of land at Kibaoni village that he bought and heavily invested.
"My son plans to sell off the land, which I am totally opposed," he told Crazy Monday.
Apart from his title deed, the young man took his father’s national Identity Card and Sh50,000 cash. He says he owned a herd of cattle and about 380 mature coconut trees, his only source of income, but his son wants to forcefully inherit the property before his death.
The old man built a four-bedroom house, installed solar power and bought a television set to watch during resting hours. But he has been denied the privilege of enjoying his retirement.
No respiteHe says police refused to assist him when he reported the matter saying the officers have been demanding money from him, which he does not have.
"I have lodged my case to the area chief and Kilifi Police Station but nothing has come of it," says Changa.
Strange as it may sound, Changa is not alone. Old men and women in Kilifi County have undergone similar treatment.
Once a man or woman develops grey hairs and red eyes, the person is branded a witch or wizard. The youth and close relatives gang up and make claims that the person is engaged in witchcraft and plan their killing. Many old people have been forced to vacate from their homes and buy land elsewhere to avoid being attacked.
Those most targeted are wealthy aged people who opt to retire after working ouside their village for years. Those who have property in the villages are not spared.
Residents told Crazy Monday that the youth sometimes kill the person and hang the body under a tree with a rope around the neck to make it look like the person committed suicide.
Others are forced to take poisonous substances while in their huts guarded by the attackers who only leave after ensuring the old person has taken the last breath.
Safari Mwero, 65, is not living a good life as he expected after retirement. His neighbours have threatened to kill him on claims he is a witch,so he opted to settle away from his birthplace to avoid being attacked.
"My problem started last year when I built a permanent house after retirement. My neighbours said I was a witch. When I learnt they were planning to kill me, I left," says Mwero.
Mwero denies ever being involved in witchcraft saying neighbours are just victimising him. He reported the matter to local administrators but his accusers failed to follow the rulings of the chiefs.
Karisa Nyule is another worried man. He wants the government to protect elderly people from being murdered.
He hails from Mutsengo in Kaloleni and says he heard rumour that his close family members wanted to eliminate him.
A friend tipped him after a sudden death of a youth in the area after a short illness.
The 70-year-old peasant farmer said he had nowhere to go and vowed to remain in the village to wait for his death, as he has not been involved in witchcraft.
Officials from Coast Forum For Human Rights say such acts are a breach of human rights and urges the government to intervene and halt the elimination of old people in the community.
The deputy director of the forum, George Otieno, says such killings are carefully planned by close family members to pave way for inheritance.
To protect the aged from being killed, a rescue centre for aged people suspected to be witches has been established in Ganze District.
According to the coordinator of the rescue centre, Charo Mangi, the centre was established at Kaya Godoma in Mrima wa Ndege, Vitengeni Division, to protect the elderly people.
Mangi said the centre was established under the Ganze District Cultural Association (GADICA), which apart from protecting the elderly from being targeted, they also use the place to conserve the cultures and traditions of the Giriama community.
Speaking at the centre, Mangi said the wave of killings rocked the area forcing elders to come together and seek ways of safe guarding their lives.
He said there is a special committee of elderly people who perform traditional rituals to those suspected of being witches before they are taken back to their respective homes.
The leader of the group, Karisa Shikari, 70, confirmed that people who develop grey hair and red eyes have been targeted for elimination.
HauntedHe said old people are living in great fear while others have fled their homes.
"It is true old people are being killed by youths who accuse them of practising witchcraft. The elderly have not been living a good life in this community," said Shikari.
Mangi said the centre has recruited youths to carry out civic education to discourage people from killing aged parents.
Youth leader Emmanuel Katana said since they started the campaigns, cases of elderly people being killed have gone down.
The assistant chief in Mrima wa Ndege sub-location, Ezekeil Kazungu, said the government has a responsibility to protect all citizens and will provide security and support to those helping to rescue the elderly.
Coast Provincial Commissioner Ernest Munyi expressed concerns on the increasing incidents of killings on mere claims of practicing witchcraft.
Munyi said old people in Magarini constituency in Kilifi County were endangered. He urged the residents to report suspects of witchcraft to police.
"We will not allow residents to take the law into their own hands and kill the aged," said Munyi.
He urged the residents to discard cultural beliefs that are destructive and blamed high levels of illiteracy as the cause of violence against old people.
Kilifi District Commissioner Katee Mwanza said the number of old people accused of practicing witchcraft has gone up. He said aged people have a lot of wisdom and should not be targeted. He said many people now fear retiring to their rural homes for fear of being killed.