My husband involved in occult, says sexually assaulted Meru woman

The man said to have sexually assaulted and sealed his wife’s private parts with super glue in Meru is involved in the occult and visits witchdoctors to get “dark powers.”

It is these powers that have enabled him escape justice over previous brushes with the law, his wife says.

Speaking for the first time since the incident, Charity Wairimu admitted her marriage to James Kifo Muriuki, 33, from Tharaka Nithi, was troubled because she questioned his regular visits to witchdoctors and rebuffed attempts to join him.

The 23-year-old, who is recuperating in her parents’ home in Nyandarua, says Kifo evaded prosecution over previous crimes by using witchcraft. 

“I was not shocked when I heard he was arrested while undergoing some rituals in a witchdoctor’s home in Kitui because I know this is what he does to cheat justice but God is good he did not succeed because what he did to me is inhumane.

I have never cheated on him. He believes so much in superstitions and witchcraft he often sought help from the men and women of that nature, especially when he was in conflict with the law,” she said.

Wairimu alleged that whenever she questioned him over his ungodly ways, he would beat her up but she would not leave him because she loved him.  

“I knew  what he was doing was not good but I would not run away because I loved him but prayed for him that one day he would change,” she added.

But now, she says, the marriage is over and she would never dare go back to him.

Kifo was arrested by a team of detectives from Nairobi and Marimanti at a famous witchdoctor’s den at Kaningo in Tsekuru, Kitui county.

The wife now says the man has been a frequent visitor to witchdoctors’ homes in Tharaka and neighboring Ukambani regions.  

However, James Murogi Maingi, the witchdoctor in whose home the suspect was arrested on Thursday, told  People Daily that he was a herbalist.

Murogi, 50, said Muriuki had spent a day in his place and paid Sh10,000 for his services, but denied knowing him. 

Kifo is now in police custody after he was arraigned in an Embu court last Friday where he denied sexually assaulting her. 

He was previously charged with robbery with violence but the case ended when he visited a renowned witchdoctor in Tharaka where he bought a goat and paid Sh5,000, the family says. 

Wairimu says his name evokes fear among residents of Marimanti where he owns some rental premises.

“His belief in dark forces has made him spend a lot of money while sourcing for help. 

On one occasion he met conmen who swindled him a lot of money under the guise of helping him getting supernatural powers,” she said.

Police files

Area police boss Kiprop Rutto said they would have to go back to police files to confirm whether the suspect had any pending cases. 

“We know he is a criminal, but we will have to go back to the files to find out the nature of the crimes he had committed and if he was charged in court or not,” added Ruto.

Meanwhile, Wairimu denied claims she was admitted at Nairobi Women’s Hospital, saying she has been struggling to get medical assistance. 

“I cried a lot when I saw news that I am getting treatment at the said hospital while I know very well that I am at my mother’s home suffering since I cannot walk or go for a long call due to pain and my parents who depend on casual jobs cannot afford to take me to better hospital for treatment,” she added. 

Kifo studied in juvenile primary school after he was accused of stealing a teacher’s bicycle at Nkondi Primary School.

He attended Tharaka Boys, Turima High and later at Kiriria Day School where he completed Form Four.

The suspect and his wife met in 2016 when she was only 17 years at Marimanti market. She had come to visit her elder sister. 

They dated for eight months and relocated to Nairobi’s Utawala Estate where they have been living for the last four years.