Kilifi County Commissioner Magu Mutindika on Thursday issued an order warranting the arrest and prosecution of pastors inciting the people to murder the elderly.
The pastors, who are titled prophets by their followers in Kilifi, are reported to turn their followers against senior members of the community who are believed to be witches.
According to the county official, the clerics were responsible for the killings of persons suspected to be practicing witchcraft - a matter that equates to taking the law into their hands.
So far, 29 people have already been lynched for suspicion of practicing witchcraft in Rabai alone over the past two years according to reports.
The county commissioner noted that the number is alarming and the culprits need to be held accountable.
Mutindika was speaking while leading a sensitization workshop in Rabai that was organized by the Haki Yetu organization to deliberate the killings of elders.
In attendance at the workshop were seven Chiefs, 16 Assistant Chiefs, area DCI official John Lelei, and Rabai OCPD David Maina.
"Most of the medicine men come from Tanzania to conduct the fake rituals, members of the public should be on high alert to avoid being victims of their propaganda that has led to hate and bloodshed," the Commissioner stated.
Mutindika mentioned that the initiatives of alleged witches are only meant to extort money and should hence be perceived as such.
He also advised the residents to turn away from the backward ideologies of believing in witches especially considering that Rabai is one of the areas where Christianity began.
History has it that the European missionary, Dr Ludwig Kraft set up the Rabai Mission in 1846 while the St. Paul’s Rabai Church was built in 1848.
