(Juba) – A South Sudanese woman says she has been left financially ruined and emotionally devastated after losing KSh 580,000 (approximately $20,000 USD) to a man claiming to be a traditional healer in Kitui County, Kenya.
That amount equals nearly SSP 93 million at the official exchange rate, or up to SSP 140 million on South Sudan’s parallel market.
Francy Arunga, a mother of three originally from Juba, said she was introduced to the healer, identified only as Hassan by a friend who claimed he had spiritual powers that could boost business performance.
Hoping to grow her spare parts business, which had been struggling, Arunga and her then boyfriend began sending Hassan money in stages.
The payments eventually added up to KSh 580,000, made with the promise that Hassan’s spiritual rituals would bring back returns of over KSh 67 million (around $2.3 million USD, or SSP 155 billion at the black market exchange rate). But as time passed, nothing changed, and business continued to suffer.
“My partner blamed me because I introduced him to Hassan,” she told TUKO.co.ke. “The shop was failing, and instead of investing in customers, all our money was going to this man. Eventually, Hassan stopped answering my calls.”
The business shut down. Arunga lost both her income and her relationship.
“He [my partner] took all the clients and even threatened to have me jailed if I didn’t return the money,” she added. “Here, if you don’t have someone in government, you could stay in prison forever.”
She now makes a living using a boda boda (motorbike taxi) to deliver spare parts she buys in bulk from local shops around Juba.
“I left the house with a few items. I was left with nothing. I now do deliveries on a motorbike to estates in town just to survive.”
Financial Impact Breakdown
| Currency | Amount | USD Equivalent | SSP (Official) | SSP (Parallel) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSh | 580,000 | $20,000 | 93,000,000 SSP | 140,000,000 SSP |
| Promised Return (KSh) | 67,000,000+ | $2.3 million+ | 10.7 billion SSP | 16.1 billion SSP |
She also shared screenshots of her WhatsApp conversations with Hassan, showing unanswered pleas to return the money.
“He blocked me after I asked too many questions,” she said.
Her case is one of several similar reports involving witch doctor scams across the region. In a separate case, a Kenyan teacher lost KSh 600,000 (approx. $20,690 USD) to another alleged healer who kept requesting top ups in exchange for promised wealth that never arrived.
These cases has revealed growing concerns about unregulated spiritual services preying on vulnerable individuals across East Africa, including in South Sudan. With limited access to consumer protection or legal recourse, victims are often left without justice or recovery.
Arunga says she is still seeking help.
“I just wanted to grow my business and feed my family. Now, I don’t know where to turn,” she said. “I hope my story warns others not to fall for the same trap.”
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