Tharaka Nithi County Government has resorted to witchcraft to punish thieves who stole solar panels at a community borehole.
The panels were stolen from the popular Kiamurukima community water project.
The county’s spokesperson Paul Mwabu led Ameru elders to perform a ritual known as Nduuka.
According to the Nation, Nduuka is a dreaded curse only administered by elderly men who have stopped bearing children and is conducted in the bush away from villages.
The paper added that elders carried a pot (referred as devil’s pot) full of witchcraft paraphernalia including a bird’s nest, pieces of broken pot and goat horn.
“The thieves are enemies of the community and should not live amongs us,” the elders said as they offered sacrifices to appease to the gods.
One of the elders said that the curse will see those who stole the items reveal themselves failure to which they will turn mad.
Within the Ameru people, the Nduuka curse is so dreaded and powerful that it is only administered after wide consultations.
Elders believe the gods of Nduuka are lethal and can even punish the most powerful in society or a whole generation.
“Last year, we conducted the same ritual and a car that had been used to ferry bad things caught fire. Wait and see what will happen to those who stole the solars,” the elder said.