Why many are falling for the jujuman’s charms

The medicine men also supply portions to help men rein in unfaithful spouses and bring together estranged wives and husbands.

What you need to know:

  • Many prominent Kenyans are therefore walking around wearing charms and talismans, some disguised as gold chains, amulets and bracelets.
  • Business was booming during campaigns last year with some politicians paying as much as Sh500,000 for potions to help them win.
  • Operating from various parts of the city including rooms in three-star hotel rooms, the charm sellers attract clients through advertisements and references.

Four Cabinet ministers are among thousands of Kenyans flocking to consult witchdoctors and fortune tellers, interviews with charm sellers and soothsayers reveal.

The witchdoctors promise a simple solution to all problems and desires, be it romance, career, health, an errant lover and even political power. They are doing such a roaring business that they advertise the potency of their charms in leading newspapers, such as the Daily Nation and the Sunday Nation.

Thanks to their services, many prominent Kenyans are therefore walking around wearing charms and talismans, some disguised as gold chains, amulets and bracelets.

Also putting their faith on talismans dispensed by fortune tellers and self-acclaimed astrologers are scores of MPs, businessmen and people with relationship problems, as extensive investigations by the Sunday Nation reveal.

Operating from various parts of the city including rooms in three-star hotel rooms, the charm sellers attract clients through advertisements and references.

Others put signboards in city estates proclaiming their services. And they are revered more if they hail from distant places such as Tanga, Zanzibar and Pemba.

The medicine men also supply portions to help men rein in unfaithful spouses and bring together estranged wives and husbands. They also claim to have portions that help people win the love of those they secretly admire.

In the interest of research and science and armed with Sh10,000 from company coffers, the Sunday Nation went to see some of the “doctors” to have a long list of problems — including the war in Iraq and world poverty — solved.

Outside one hotel room, the Sunday Nation found a queue of smartly-dressed people waiting for their turn.

“On a bad day, I will make Sh10,000 depending on the ability of the clients. There are times I get a single client who will easily part with Sh100,000,” says a ‘doctor’ who hails from Tanzania.

He requested not to be identified so as to protect the identity of his clients. When in Kenya, he shuttles between Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu.

His clients range from politicians, businessmen, spouses and jobs seekers. Business was excellent during campaigns last year with some politicians paying as much as Sh500,000 for potions to help them win.

Another ‘doctor’ Hassan Sheikh Yahya Huessin is more forthright about his work. Born in Tanzania, he learnt the trade from his father who has since retired.

A self-proclaimed astrologer works his medicine around the stars which he claims are the key influences on a person’s life. “If a person has problems with a wife born between November 23 and December 21, (Sagittarius) I will give medicine that he will have to burn because Sagittarius is the sign of fire. ”

Unlike the traditional talisman used by many African societies which were readily available, today’s charms and potions have been “modernised” to keep with the times and also for the purposes of disguise.

From a “doctor” in Eastleigh, the Sunday Nation bought two rings. One is supposed to give the wearer power over the opposite sex. The other one allegedly offers protection from enemies.
But Sunday Nation could not find anyone willing to admit that they had consulted a witchdoctor. But the “doctors” said those flashy cufflinks, glasses, chains and gold rings could actually be charms.