Former IEBC commissioner Margaret Wanjala Mwachanya has found herself at the center of a bizarre and embarrassing scandal after falling victim to a con artist posing as a powerful witchdoctor. In a desperate attempt to secure the position of National Police Service Commission (NPSC) Chairperson, she allegedly sought supernatural intervention to influence President William Ruto’s decision.
However, instead of landing the job, she was swindled out of Kshs. 6.1 million in a series of well-orchestrated cons.
Cyprian Nyakundi, a vocal critic of Kenya’s political elite and blogger, was among the first to expose the story, highlighting how a former high-ranking official could fall for such a crude trick.
According to the report, Mwachanya was lured in by an online platform promoting a witchdoctor’s services. She first paid Kshs. 3,000 as a consultation fee before being asked for an additional Kshs. 12,500 for some mystical “medicine.”
A supposed assistant of the witchdoctor delivered the items in Nairobi, instructing her to bathe with a special powder and burn incense sticks to begin the ritual.When nothing happened, the scammers convinced her to take the process further.
She was told to place Kshs. 380,000 inside a black cloth tin, which they claimed would “boost her spiritual energy” and secure her government appointment.
After following these instructions, she later opened the tin only to find it empty. Yet, she still didn’t suspect she was being conned. Instead, she was told that she needed to put more money into the process.
At one point, she was taken to a dimly lit room decorated with red carpets and small huts. Here, she placed money inside a box, and after a staged prayer session, the box was opened to reveal what appeared to be Kshs. 18.3 million.
The witchdoctor’s team convinced her that the money would be fully available once she deposited Kshs. 1.83 million to “unlock” it. She complied, unaware that this was just another phase of the scam.The fraudsters did not stop there.
They claimed the money had now grown to Kshs. 48 million and instructed her to keep the box in her house for three months while praying over it. Before the waiting period was up, the witchdoctor demanded Kshs. 70,000 for a trip to Tanzania to consult “higher spirits” for quicker results.
She was then given final instructions to place her bank details inside a small hut, after which the box would be burned in a symbolic ritual. She was promised that the money would be deposited into her KCB account by August 15, 2024.When the date arrived, she eagerly checked her account, only to find nothing.
The realization hit her hard she had been conned out of Kshs. 6.1 million, money she had withdrawn from Equity, KCB, and Co-operative Bank. Embarrassed and furious, she reported the matter to Vihiga Police Station before being referred to the DCI for investigations.
This scandal not only exposes the extent of desperation among former officials looking for government positions but also raises serious concerns about Mwachanya’s judgment.
A person who resorts to such means to secure a job is unfit for leadership, let alone overseeing a critical institution like the National Police Service Commission.
Mwachanya’s track record at IEBC was already questionable. She was part of the team that resigned in 2018, plunging the commission into chaos. After stepping down alongside Paul Kurgat and Connie Maina, she later attempted to make a dramatic return, proving she lacked both commitment and credibility.
If she had to rely on black magic to maintain her career, what kind of leadership would she bring to the police service? The fact that she was even being considered for the NPSC role is an insult to hardworking Kenyans who believe in merit and integrity.
Cyprian Nyakundi, who first shared this story, has been vocal about exposing corruption and incompetence in leadership, and this case only strengthens the argument that Kenya’s public offices are being infiltrated by individuals who have no business being there.
At a time when the country is struggling with governance issues, allowing someone like Mwachanya anywhere near power would be a disaster. The interviewing panel should reject her outright, and Kenyans should demand that only credible individuals are entrusted with leadership positions. If she was this reckless with her own money, how can she be trusted to oversee the police service?
