An elderly man was hacked to death at Mwenge village in Ganze sub-county on suspicion that he was engaging in witchcraft.

The assailants are said to have attacked and brutally killed Mr Baraza Kitsao,57, while in his compound on Thursday evening.

Ganze Deputy County Commissioner, Mr Patrick Meso, said the deceased sustained deep cuts on the forehead and left shoulder while the fingers were chopped off.

Police investigations indicate that the deceased had been accused of witchcraft in the neighbourhood after mysterious deaths occurred.

''The deceased’s second wife said that the deceased took supper and went to bed, but at around 8:20 pm, while she was in one of the bedrooms, taking her supper, she heard two people entering their house and demanding to know where their cows were," said Meso.

In the process, the deceased came out of the bedroom to find out who they were, but was immediately attacked and sustained deep cuts. He died on the spot.

Meso said the matter is under investigation, and police have launched a manhunt for the suspects.

He condemned the act and warned against mob justice and baseless accusations of witchcraft, which often lead to violence and loss of life.

The body of the deceased was moved to the Kilifi County Referral Hospital mortuary pending an autopsy.

Belief in witchcraft and superstition has left many dead and others with lifelong disabilities in Kilifi following attacks by hired gangs.

Few people in this area have title deeds for their land. Without a will, they rely on passing it down customarily through the family. So many killings involve elderly men because land ownership and inheritance lie with them,'' Meso said.

Director Institute for Participatory Development, Mr Mzungu Ngoma, who deals with cases of killing of the elderly, said witchcraft beliefs remain deeply rooted within the community, leading to the deadly attacks.

“Every ailment, misfortune, or trouble is blamed on sorcery. Some say even success here is attributed to witchcraft,” he stated.

Many families believe it is one of their own who orders the killings following disputes that include the quest to inherit land.

"They use the word witchcraft as a justification because they will get public sympathy," he added.

He noted investigation and prosecution of perpetrators has been slow and ineffective, with the majority of cases remaining unresolved, partly due to the non-cooperation of community members and police laxity.

A report by the National Crime Research Centre found that 58.2 per cent of Kilifi and Kwale residents were aware of murder cases in their neighbourhoods, with a significant portion involving older individuals accused of witchcraft.

The Haki Yetu Organisation survey revealed that at least 89 older people have been murdered in Kilifi and Kwale counties between 2023 and 2025, with the attacks often linked to witchcraft accusations.