Baraka’s Curse? Kenyan Teen Begins Mimicking Stolen Animals After Selling Them, Leaves Market Crowd Speechless

A cloud of confusion, fear, and disbelief has engulfed residents of Mombasa after a teenage boy began bleating like a goat and clucking like a chicken, just days after allegedly stealing the very animals in Nairobi.  

The incident has left many wondering whether the bizarre transformation is a case of psychological trauma, divine intervention, or a powerful spiritual curse. 

Sixteen-year-old Baraka Joseph, now at the center of the mystery, was taken to Majengo Police Post on June 28, 2025, by concerned residents who found him at the Sokoni market behaving erratically. Witnesses say the boy could not speak but communicated through notes while mimicking the exact sounds of goats and chickens.  

In a handwritten statement handed to officers at Makupa Police Station, Baraka confessed to stealing two goats and two chickens from a man in Nairobi’s Eastlands area in April. He reportedly sold the goats for KSh 3,000 and the chickens for KSh 1,000. 

Baraka claimed that until June 4, when he traveled to Mombasa, he was speaking normally. But shortly after arriving, his speech vanished, and the animal sounds took over.  

Through his notes, the teen pleaded for help to return to Nairobi, stating that his strange condition was likely caused by guilt and a higher power punishing him for his actions. He asked to be allowed to seek forgiveness from the owner of the stolen livestock. 

Police, unsure whether Baraka’s condition is psychological, medical, or spiritual, referred him to Coast General Hospital for evaluation. Meanwhile, authorities in Mombasa are working with their counterparts in Nairobi to trace the livestock owner and verify the boy’s account. 

The case has sparked intense debate across Kenya. Some citizens believe the teen’s condition is a result of “justice from above”a warning to others not to steal, while others are calling for compassion and professional care for the minor. As the story spreads across social media, reactions have ranged from spiritual awe to political satire. 

In a curious twist, the same week Baraka’s case made headlines, CCTV footage from a separate household captured a failed attempt by a man trying to steal chickens.  

The barefoot suspect, hoping to go unnoticed without a flashlight, entered a henhouse in the dead of night. But as he reached out for the birds, loud clucking triggered the camera, sending him fleeing into the darkness.  

The footage has added fuel to the fire, with many drawing parallels between the incidents and warning would-be thieves that “the chickens are watching.” 

While Baraka awaits further tests and possible return to Nairobi, many Kenyans are watching the story unfold like a real-life folklore drama, part horror, part comedy, and fully captivating. Whether it ends in healing, redemption, or spiritual revelation, one thing is clear: no one is laughing when the goat starts talking back. 

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