In the quiet village of Ngongogeri, Njoro, Nakuru County, a farmer named Patrick Kiunyu is at the center of a unique controversy.
At 42 years old, Kiunyu has become an outcast in his community—not because of any wrongdoing, but because of his unusual passion for keeping snakes as pets. His neighbors have labeled him a "witch," a label that stems from their fear and misunderstanding of the creatures he holds dear.
Kiunyu's fascination with snakes began during his university studies. What started as a simple interest has now become a significant part of his life.
He moved to Imenti, Ngobit Ward, during Kenya’s post-election violence and settled on a two-acre piece of land. There, he began farming onions, cabbages, potatoes, carrots, beans, and peas. The availability of water for irrigation on his farm created an ideal environment for snakes, which naturally attracted them to his land.
Rather than seeing the snakes as pests, Kiunyu embraced their presence. Over time, he started to care for the reptiles, allowing them to roam freely around his compound. Currently, he has three non-venomous snakes living on his property.
These include two spotted bush snakes, known scientifically as Philothamnus battersbyi, and a brown house snake that lives in a burrow in his garden.
The spotted bush snakes are green and harmless, often seen feeding on birds, lizards, and other small animals along his fence. The brown house snake, on the other hand, helps control the rodent population by feeding on rats and mice.
Despite his enthusiasm, Kiunyu’s neighbors view his hobby with suspicion and fear. The local community, unfamiliar with the nature of these snakes, believes they pose a danger. This fear has led them to brand Kiunyu as a witch, an accusation rooted in old superstitions about snakes being associated with dark magic.
Kiunyu has made several attempts to educate his neighbors, explaining that the snakes he keeps are not dangerous. He emphasizes that these reptiles are an essential part of the ecosystem, helping to control pests naturally.
However, his efforts to change their perceptions have largely fallen on deaf ears. The stigma surrounding snakes is deep-seated, and many in his community are unwilling to unlearn what they have been taught to fear.
Adding to the complexity of his situation is the fact that Kiunyu does not keep the snakes in cages. He is still in the process of obtaining official clearance from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to legally house and possibly farm the snakes.
Without this clearance, he allows the snakes to remain wild, though they have become accustomed to the environment he has created for them.
Despite the challenges, Kiunyu remains passionate about his interest in snakes. His long-term goal is to establish a snake farm where he can safely keep these reptiles and possibly breed them.
He believes that snakes, like any other animals, deserve respect and understanding. He hopes that with time and education, his neighbors will come to appreciate the vital role these creatures play in the environment.
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