Police Rescue Kwale Man Imprisoned In Shackles By His Family
Police rescued a 22-year-old man who had been held in chains for five months at a traditional herbalist’s residence in Mwamanga Village, Kwale County.
The man, originally from Darugube, was discovered padlocked to a hefty metal chain linked to the floor inside one of the herbalist’s chambers.
He was apparently transported there to receive treatment for a mental ailment.
Pictures obtained by Wananchi Reporting show a malnourished man wearing shorts and shackled to the ground on both feet.
Diani Police have rescued 22-year-old Guni Dele Mwatela, who was allegedly chained and held captive for five months at the home of a well-known traditional healer known as Baakanda in the Kibundani area of Kwale County.
The young man was reportedly detained at the healer’s… pic.twitter.com/hxkkwEwguF— Kijana ya Misa🇰🇪 (@kijana_misa) June 1, 2026
Police officials spent nearly 30 minutes sawing through the chain to rescue the clearly terrified guy, whose health appeared to have deteriorated during his captivity.
Police said that the herbalist kept the man chained on the floor, fitted with metallic hooks permanently cemented into the concrete, and a padlock.
*Police Rescue a Patient Allegedly Detained in a “Witch Doctor’s” Home in Kwale*
Police in Diani, Kwale county have rescued a 22-year-old boy who had allegedly been detained by a “witch doctor ” in his house to solicit money from the victim’s family.
Guni Dele Mwatela was… pic.twitter.com/hybsO5Sckg— Kingpin of Kenya (@ClintonObonyo) June 1, 2026
The victim’s father, Mwatela Dela, said his son developed a mental illness and was initially taken to the hospital for treatment.
However, after failing to see significant improvement, the family was persuaded to seek help from a traditional healer.
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According to Mwatela, there was disagreement over payment, forcing him to report the matter to the police, who accompanied him to the homestead.
Human rights defender Evans Momanyi condemned the incident, describing the conditions under which the young man was held as cruel, degrading and inhumane.
He said no human being deserves to be subjected to such treatment, regardless of their medical condition.
Msambweni DCI detectives are investigating the incident. The DCI reports that both the herbalist and the victim’s mother are currently in detention while investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the rescued man was taken to Msambweni Hospital for medical treatment and further assessment.
Police Rescue Kwale Man Imprisoned In Shackles By His Family
