Fear and disbelief have gripped residents of Ibucha-Sironga village in Bogichora Ward, Nyamira County, after a Form Four leaver who was preparing to begin university reportedly disappeared from his home in the middle of the night—only to be found the following morning.
The young man, identified as Onyancha, the only child of a man known as Charles, had recently completed his secondary education and scored an impressive B-. He had secured admission to Laikipia University and was expected to report for his studies on August 18.
For his family, the future appeared bright. Their only son was preparing to take the next major step in his education.
But that excitement reportedly turned into a night of anguish when the young man disappeared from his home under unclear circumstances.
Residents woke up to startling claims that the university-bound student had allegedly been taken hostage during the night by individuals whom some members of the community believe to be practitioners of witchcraft, locally referred to as abarogi.
The claims have not been independently verified, but they have sparked intense discussion and concern across the village.
One resident described how the news spread rapidly through the community, leaving families stunned.
She recalled how her husband arrived home and asked whether she had heard about what had allegedly happened.
“My husband came home and said, ‘You are in the house, and you haven’t heard about what just happened?’”
According to the woman, her husband then told her that Charles’s son had allegedly been taken hostage. Alarmed by the news, she rushed to the area, where she said she discovered that the incident had indeed occurred.
Another resident said she was struggling to understand how such claims could emerge from a village she considered peaceful and increasingly dominated by churches.
“Ever since I came to this village, I have never heard of witches. This is the first time I am hearing that witches have taken this boy hostage,” she said.
She strongly condemned what she described as the disturbing incident and called for it to stop.
Another villager, who appeared to be among those raising concerns over the incident, questioned the identity and motive of the people allegedly responsible.
“Who are these thugs masquerading as witches and taking Charles’s son hostage throughout the night?” the resident asked.
The resident pointed to the growing number of churches in Sironga Village and urged those allegedly involved to abandon what he described as harmful practices and embrace Christianity.
The incident has since triggered calls for collective prayers, with some residents choosing to interpret the episode through a spiritual lens.
The young man’s disappearance is particularly troubling for his family because he was on the verge of beginning a new chapter of his life. Having secured a B- and admission to Laikipia University, he was expected to report on August 18 and begin pursuing his dreams of higher education.
As residents continue to discuss the mysterious overnight disappearance, questions remain about what actually happened, where the young man was during the night, and who may have been responsible for his disappearance.
Authorities have yet to publicly establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Until investigations provide concrete answers, the claims of witchcraft remain allegations made by members of the community.
For the people of Ibucha-Sironga, however, the incident has already left behind a deep sense of fear, suspicion and unanswered questions—just days before one of their own was expected to leave home and begin his university journey.
