This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
On the outskirts of Mombasa, a city in Kenya, lies the Kisauni constituency, a place where the ordinary rules of society no longer apply. For months, the area has been plagued by a wave of crime, with gangs of young men terrorizing residents and businesses alike.
But in a bizarre twist, the situation has taken a turn for the worse. Local religious teachers, known as Ustadhs, have invoked a revered curse known as Albadiri on the perpetrators, with devastating consequences.
According to Sheikh Ali Haji, a local religious leader, the curse was invoked as a last resort to deal with the rampant crime in the area. 'The young mad men you are encountering around are former criminals who are bearing the consequences of their actions,' he explained.
The curse, which is said to be a mystery among locals, has resulted in the former criminals becoming insane. They can be seen roaming the streets, shouting and behaving erratically. The sight of grown-up men walking and shouting while stark naked and urinating openly is common in this area, also long associated with drugs abuse.
Sheila Shirasala, an upcountry middle-aged woman who resided in Mwandoni but moved out after only one month, shared her experience with Crazy Monday. 'I was escorting my younger sister who is a trader at Kongowea market to work in the morning when we were accosted by a group of four young menacing gangsters armed with knives and swords,' she recalled.
Sheila's ordeal was not an isolated incident. Many residents have fallen victim to the gangs, with some even being subjected to sexual abuse. A woman who only identified herself as Suzanna told Crazy Monday that her husband, a teacher at a local school, came home late at night last month from a drinking spree, complaining that he had been attacked by criminals who stole his money, hurt him and unimaginable things to him.
Alamin Siwa Somo, who owns a prominent Mombasa housing agent firm, Shekha Enterprises, has suffered poor business over the recent years as tenants leave the area in droves due to insecurity. He says the problem has been compounded by local politicians who bail out suspects once they are arrested by police.
With no solution in sight, the town will continue to retain the dubious distinction of having the highest number of mad men. For the potency of this curse Albadiri, seems to be unmatched.
