An association of witch doctors from Magarini in Kilifi County has asked the national government through the Ministry of Health to recognise their traditional medicine services in the health department.
Addressing the press at Magarini Cultural Centre, the witchdoctors said that the government has been looking down upon the traditional health expertise for long, adding that there is a need for them to be included in the medical sector, for they contribute a lot in the society.
The chair to the association, Dhahabu Ngumbao Mole said that there is no need for the government to fight witchdoctors for they were cleared and issued with certificates by the same government to go on with the traditional medical practices.
“We demanded the certificates so as to be recognised by the government, now that there are no changes, we are demanding the government to take us with our equipment to government health centers to help the scientific doctors with our traditional medical expertise,” added Mole.
They said that witch doctors are capable of treating various diseases once the government recognises them in the health department.
However, Mole refuted claims that witchdoctors are encouraging the killing of old people suspected to possess witchcraft.
She said, “the allegations that witch doctors are revealing old people as witchcraft to be murdered are false. Those killing old people in the name of guidance from witchdoctors are cheating the society. Our work is basically dealing with health issues which are treating patients.”