The Superstition That Mutilates Children in Africa: Exploring the Scale and Features of Juju-Driven Pedicide in Kenya

Abstract

Juju-involved pedicide is becoming a frequent crime in contemporary African communities. Yet, sparse empirical studies on the subject exist. The present study explores the magnitude, motivations, and primary features of this crime in Kenya. An in-depth analysis was conducted of ritual homicide reports publicized in three Kenyan media outlets between 2012 and 2021. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with five academics and activists to gain additional insights into key aspects of the results of the content analysis. The data support relevant existing literature that the worst victims of juju-driven murders are children of low socio-economic background in rural communities. The study calls for traditional spiritualists and dubious religious leaders to be brought under closer scrutiny.

Exploring the Magnitude, Characteristics and Socio-economic Contexts of Witchcraft-Related Eldercides in Kenya

“…Of course, there may have been other positive outcomes (in terms of arrests and convictions) that did not come to the attention of the selected media outlets and thus could not be published. Even with this admission, the relevant extant studies and reports indicate that most crimes reported to the police in Kenya still need to be solved or professionally handled (Andvig and Barasa 2011; National Council on the Administration of Justice 2016; Owusu 2022).…”

“…Existing government reports suggest that approximately 25% of all criminal cases reported to the police in Kenya each year are prosecuted, and only about 7% of the cases reported are likely to end in conviction (National Council on the Administration of Justice 2016). It has been established that the main factors that account for the low arrests, prosecution and conviction rates in the country are: (1) incompetence, inexperience and lack of ingenuity on the part of law enforcement agencies; (2) the extremely slow and corrupt judicial process; and (3) lack of resources (Andvig and Barasa 2011; National Council on the Administration of Justice 2016; Overseas Security Advisory Council 2020; Owusu 2022). A report released by the National Council on the Administration of Justice (2016:74) notes that the Kenyan police’s “lack of knowledge of the law, lack of prosecution skills, poor coordination and lack of supervision by the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions contribute to delays in case flow management”.…”

“…Using data from newspaper or news media surveillance to study homicide is not an unproven approach. Several academics and researchers have effectively utilized this technique to understand various types of homicides in multiple environments (e.g., Adinkrah 2004, 2020; Owusu 2022; Warren-Gordon et al 2010; Yoon, Yu, and Lee 2022). This approach is particularly necessary, if not inescapable, in developing countries such as Kenya, where homicide data are usually poorly documented or unavailable.…”

“…Besides, crime scenes are usually poorly managed by the relevant authorities. It has been observed that in most murder cases in the country, the victims' remains are "removed by law enforcement authorities and taken to the morgue without any diligent forensic examination of the body or of the crime scene" (Owusu 2022).…”

“…It is therefore not surprising that in 2018, the Chief Justice took a bold decision to probe and dismiss several judges, magistrates and support staff within the judiciary over corruption and integrity issues (Ndirangu 2018). Additionally, the criminal justice system's weaknesses are aggravated by a lack of resources such as vehicles, forensic laboratories and modern crime investigation equipment (Owusu 2022). The unavailability of these resources or facilities partly explains why most witchcraft-related eldercide cases are not promptly handled or solved.…”