“Witch Hunts” and killings of older women in Kenya claimed on colonial “anti-witchcraft” laws

Bad news! These “anti-witchcraft” laws supposedly date back to colonial times, but this may only be a pretext or excuse.

"More than 250 murders of elderly women in Kenya between 2020 and 2022 have been linked to the increased use of “anti-witchcraft” laws. 

The laws, which allow murder in “self-defense” from witchcraft, primarily affect elderly widows, who are frequently accused by their late husbands’ families of trying to gain property. The women are then shunned and lynched. 

However, behavior attributed to witchcraft may actually be symptoms of dementia—and increased life expectancy has led to a rise in female-headed households and dementia cases.

Compounding factors: Kenya’s booming population and high unemployment rates often make elderly women targets for those seeking resources. Cultural beliefs about the evils of witchcraft mean that violators are rarely prosecuted."

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