Night runners, known locally as omurang’a or Jojuogi in some Kenyan communities, are individuals who engage in bizarre and often unsettling nocturnal activities. They are said to be ordinary members of society—men and women of any social class—who lead normal lives by day but transform into mysterious and mischievous figures at night. Their primary objective is not exercise or fitness but to instill fear and confusion in their victims through a range of eerie and unpredictable behaviors.
Their activities include throwing pebbles onto tin roofs, shaking trees, knocking on doors, making disturbing noises, and even smearing dirt on people’s houses. In some cases, they are known to release livestock into gardens, poison guard dogs that may detect them, or pour urine and water on their victims. While their actions are primarily meant to amuse themselves and scare others, their presence has long been shrouded in fear, myth, and deep cultural beliefs.
Origins and Beliefs Surrounding Night Running
The true origins of night running remain uncertain, though various communities believe it to be a hereditary practice passed down through families. Some claim it can also be inherited through marriage or developed out of personal fascination. In many parts of Kisii and Homabay, night runners are believed to be under the influence of supernatural forces, either through demonic possession or powerful charms that enhance their abilities.
The fear surrounding night runners is compounded by the belief that they possess supernatural powers, including the ability to render their victims deaf and mute. Some claim that night runners in Homabay can even call out victims by name in a playful yet terrifying manner. In Kisii, the myths go even further, suggesting that night runners use magical charms to exhume buried bodies, utilizing body parts to strengthen their spells. These beliefs contribute to the air of mystery that surrounds them, making them figures of both fear and intrigue.
Mysterious Meetings and Hard-to-Catch Figures
Night runners are known to be highly secretive, often meeting in clandestine gatherings where they bond, strategize, and familiarize themselves with new tactics. These meetings are believed to be crucial for passing down night-running traditions and strengthening their influence. Despite widespread belief in their existence, night runners are rarely caught, as they are said to possess supernatural abilities that allow them to disappear quickly.
Communities are also reluctant to capture them due to the widespread belief that harming or attacking a night runner could result in the attacker becoming one themselves. Fear of social stigma also prevents night runners from revealing their identities, ensuring that their true nature remains elusive.
Strange Rituals and Unusual Behaviors
As they run through the night, these figures perform a variety of eerie and unsettling acts, including:
- Running at high speeds, often noisily and completely naked
- Kicking doors and rattling windows
- Swinging from tree trunks and branches like primates
- Defecating near doorsteps or farting loudly near bedroom windows
- Throwing dirt or pebbles into houses through cracks in roofs and walls
- Performing weird dances and acrobatic displays
- Waylaying and scaring late-night travelers
- Making strange, animal-like noises
- Carrying mysterious fire as they sprint through the darkness
While these behaviors are deeply unsettling, night runners are generally not violent and do not physically harm their victims, aside from causing distress and fright-related health issues.
Night Runners vs. Witches
It is important to distinguish night runners from witches. Unlike witches, who are believed to cast spells and practice dark magic to cause harm, night runners primarily seek to frighten rather than physically injure their targets. Some night runners do use charms and minor spells, but their intentions are more mischievous than malevolent. Their role in society is largely perceived as that of an eerie nuisance rather than a direct threat.
The Night Runners of Homabay and Kisii
Though night running is a common belief across western Kenya, Kisii and Homabay counties have some of the most infamous and chilling tales about these nocturnal figures.
Homabay’s Night Runners and Their Wild Companions
In Homabay, night runners are believed to have the ability to tame wild animals such as hyenas, cheetahs, snakes, and even hippos. They allegedly use these animals as companions in their night escapades, riding them as they sprint through villages and frighten people. Additionally, some night runners in Homabay are thought to possess charms that allow them to place sleeping individuals in trances, taking them on strange nocturnal adventures with giant animals before returning them home, unaware of what transpired.
One of the most well-known figures associated with night running in Homabay is Jack Songo, a self-proclaimed “President of the Kenya Night Runners Association.” In 2013, he publicly lobbied for government recognition of night running as an official sport, arguing that night runners contribute positively to communities by offering extra security at night. His statements, though controversial, added a new dimension to the debate on the legitimacy of night running.
Kisii’s Darker Night Running Legends
In Kisii, night runners are feared for their alleged use of human remains in their rituals. They are said to unearth buried bodies to extract certain body parts, which they then use to enhance their supernatural abilities. This gruesome practice makes them particularly feared in the region, and many locals believe that engaging in night running is a curse—those who try to resist it may meet an untimely death.
Additionally, night runners in Kisii are believed to be exceptionally fast and agile, able to vanish into thin air when pursued. Their connection to ancestral spirits and dark rituals further solidifies their feared status in the community.
The Enduring Mystery of Night Runners
Stories about night runners continue to be widespread in western Kenya, but concrete evidence remains elusive. Whether night running is a cultural tradition, a misunderstood nocturnal activity, or a supernatural phenomenon is still debated. The fear and mystery surrounding these figures persist, ensuring their legend will be told for generations.
While night runners do not typically pose a direct physical threat, their eerie presence and unsettling behaviors make them figures of both fascination and fear. Rooted in myths, supernatural beliefs, and cultural traditions, night running remains one of Kenya’s most mysterious folklore elements. Whether seen as pranksters, possessed individuals, or supernatural beings, their legend continues to captivate and terrify. As night falls over western Kenya, one never really knows who—or what—might be lurking in the darkness.