Nairobi — The Coast Provincial Commissioner, Mr Cyrus Maina, yesterday ordered the arrest of people practising witchcraft at the Miritini area of Coast Province.

He also ordered those who collude with them to be arrested. The PC described exorcism as a "very horrifying act" and, by law, an offence.

Since Sunday, self-styled exorcists have openly performed bizarre rituals in the area. Villagers have been seeking their services following claims that children were disappearing without trace and that mysterious deaths were on the rise.

The exorcists have been storming homes of those they suspect to be under the spell of "evil eyes" and unearthing what they claimed to be witchcraft equipment.

During the ritual, they bite off chickens' heads and let blood stream from their mouths and down their chests. They then smear the blood on their faces.

The exorcists also strip their clients naked and smear their bodies with chicken blood.

Yesterday, Mr Maina told journalists in his office that those practising witchcraft and exorcism were purporting to have supernatural powers. He said the claim was illegal.

"Lives have been lost in Kilifi, Kwale and Malindi through witchcraft," he said.

Allegations of witchcraft had led to murders, the PC said and warned that it was an offence to brand a person a witch or a wizard.

Any Government officer who condoned or authorised such acts would be punished, he said.

The anti-witchcraft crackdown is due to hit a climax tomorrow when exorcists promise to exhume three skulls from a home.

Religious leaders also condemned witchcraft and exorcism.

Mombasa Anglican bishop Julius Kalu said the Bible was against the practices as they caused fear among the people.

He warned residents against evil deeds, saying there were no people called exorcists. "You cannot send a devil to catch a devil," he added.

Sheikh Mohamed Khalif of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya said Islam did not allow witchcraft, which he described as retrogressive.

He warned Kenyans against engaging in witchcraft, saying it would interfere with their belief in God. It would also tarnish the image of the country, which is considered God-fearing, he added.