On March 16, 2020, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives investigating corruption in Homa Bay faced a new level of intimidation after being targeted with witchcraft.
According to sources, a senior officer in the salary department had hired a colleague from the lands department to engage a witchdoctor to scare off the detectives.
The plan was set in motion after the detectives checked into a hotel in Homa Bay town ahead of their mission to investigate two officials in a corruption-related matter.
One of the county officials under investigation, Anthony Bala, allegedly stormed the hotel and dropped off paraphernalia from the witchdoctor at the detectives' doorsteps.
The next morning, the detectives woke up to find wild animal parts, dead birds, and a concoction of herbs with blood stains on the corridors.
Further investigation led to the discovery of a cache of suspicious documents, including fake academic papers from the University of Nairobi and Laikipia University, at Bala's home.
The documents also included questionable land documents that Bala was using to aid cartels in the county grab public land and conceal their identities.
Perceived chief beneficiary of the shady land deals in Homa Bay, Isaiah Ogwe, who doubles as the county secretary, was seen leaving in a hurry, sparking speculations that he was trying to thwart ongoing investigations.
