Ganze Member of Parliament Teddy Mwambire has declared himself the undisputed “King of Witches” in Kilifi County.
The MP has been at the forefront of protecting elderly men thought to be practicing witchcraft, saying those suspected of practicing witchcraft should be taken to him instead of being lynched.
Speaking during a prize-giving ceremony organized by Kenya Red Cross Society, Mwambire said he’s the only one in East Africa who has a protection centre for witches.
“I am a human rights defender by passion and politician by public demand, people criticize me for defending suspected witchcraft,” he said.
“I am the only one in Kenya and east Africa with a place to house ‘witches’, whoever is suspected to be a witch should not be hacked to death, I have a good rehabilitation centre,” he said.
Mwambire says he was inspired by what happens in Ghana and sought to help elderly men who are being killed after being suspected of practicing witchcraft.
The most affected areas in coastal Kenya include Ganze, Rabai, Malindi and Magarini, and circumstances have forced elderly men and women to dye their hair black because having white hair could lead to one being suspected of witchcraft.
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