Is Night Runner (Jajuok) a Mental Disorder?
Posted byBetty Odak, Editor:
I checked in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-IV-TR, 2000) and Googles and could not find this disorder any where. The closest I could think of is ‘Selective Mutism’.
Night Runner in Luo is called “Jajuok”. Let me explain what Night Runner is and/or what they do in terms of behavior (s): these are people who function normally in the society. They have a wife or wives and children and are capable of maintaining a job during the day. Well, things are different for Night Runners at night. They leave their homes, wife/wives and children and literally run around people’s homes almost all night through. Night Runners actually run naked-and most of the Night Runners are male.
As a young girl, my grandmother told that one day they were tired of the Night Runners bothering them every night, so they they decided to close the door, but not lock it. This was a trap for the Night Runner. As soon as the Night Runner kicked the door, he came inside the house and he was trapped. The Night Runner begged my grand mother and the people who were with her not to tell anyone about his identity. My grand mother promised she won’t but warned him never to bother her again. He never did, and the following day, the Night Runner sent my grand mother a cow as a ‘thank you’ for keeping his identity secret.
The typical behavior for Night Runners is to kick people’s doors, throw sand through any opening, throw things on the roof, especially iron sheet roofs which makes a lot of noise. They take pleasure in disturbing people’s sleep.
Night Runners are not harmful or violent to people. The only thing they do is to ‘RUN’. They also enjoy running when it is raining because their chances of meeting people outside are rare or minimal.
Well, I am yet to find out what kind of mental disorder this is: making a family man to leave his comfortable home and just run around other peoples’ homes is indeed a weird thing to do.
Many churches discriminated against Night Runners. They were not allowed to be baptised or join any official committee membership. Probably the church did not know which category to put them, since there is no indication in the Bible about any sin about Night Runners.
There are no Night Runners in the big cities though, or in some cultures. And many Western cultures do not understand this. Probably it is time for an African/Kenyan person to discover what kind of mental disorder this is-I am thinking about it seriously.
Any thoughts on Night Runners? Please feel free to share.
19 Comments
January 8th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Betty, your article called “Is Night Runner (Jajuok) a Mental Disorder?” was very well written. The information you presented about night runners is common among Luo people of Kenya. As I was growing up in Luoland, I was made to believe them, and lived in mortal fear of jajuok. I even knew at least four men who were rumored to be jajuok. I have heard many stories about activities and exploits of night runners. However, I have never seen or experienced a night runner in action. Neither do I know anyone who has encountered a real-life night runner. Therefore, I have concluded that night runners, as perceived by Luos, are just creations of the mind. They are entities of belief, just like demons, witches, or even angels.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:35 am
I do agree with Mr Juma partly, but growing up and witnessing ‘jajuok’ throwing sand, kicking doors, is more than an imagination. It is true that ‘Night Runners’ exist among the Luos. Night Runners are real.
Betty
March 5th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Betty, taking your word that you witnessed the activities of ‘jajuok,’ and also by the widespread belief in ‘jajuok’ among Luo people, I now withdraw my earlier statement that their existence is mere imagination. Apparently, the practitioners of this antisocial lifestyle must be hooligans of the darkest order. By the way, are there similar night runners in any other community?
March 5th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Juma, I am glad that you are agreeing that ‘jajuok’ exists. My sister is home right now and she just experienced ‘jajuok’. Well, this can be debated. I shared this experience with one of my colleagues and they thought it was crazy. Will check other communities as else.
Betty
Betty
May 21st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I just came back from Kisii where I videoed the testimony of a former nightrunner. As a Westerner, I was shocked to hear of the things they do and are capable of, but coming from a pastor of a vibrant Christian church, and backed up by the testimonies of others around her, it was hard to dismiss.
The most apparent explanation is not a sickness, but a demon possession. I know that modern psychology no longer believes in spiritual forces like that, but if you spend enough time in Africa, you will most likely become a believer.
I can send you the video if you want it.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 am
Dalen, it was nice to read your comments. Yes, nightrunners could be demon possession or a mental disorder. I already sent you and email and please, go ahead and send me the video. Thanks, Betty
June 4th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Betty,
Thanks for writting about night runners. I was discussing this issue with some foreigners from othe countries. They do not understand or believe this. I have experienced night runners and knew of 2 men who did this. As a Registered Nurse in a Psychiatric Hospital, I intend to research on this issue in order to understand. The only cultural rationale I can come of at the present is that these people must be possesed by the demons. medically nightrunners presents with clinical symptoms of a MANIC BIPOLAR DISORDER. Actually, during the day they display anti-social behavior and at night they get manic. I will continue to read any responses and will post any findings. I wonder why it only existed in the LUO community.
WHAT ABOUT THE “EVIL EYE”. You know those people that were believed to have the power to do evil just by looking at you, especially when you are eating? They were mostly women.
Thanks,
Nancy
June 5th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Nancy, just a quick response. Thanks for your comments. Night Runners are still a mystery to many people. They also exist in Kisii land. Will write more next time.
Betty
June 12th, 2008 at 4:26 am
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June 12th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Mashada, thank for your comment. Night Runners knew there were some homes that they would not dare visit. These were homes with male or fierest dogs. But Night Runners had ways of taming the dogs and still go to those homes. I will probably research this more when I visit Kenya this December.
Betty
July 10th, 2008 at 1:58 am
I was discussing this topic yesterday with my cousin and it really intrigued me and I thought of researching it in the net. Am a luhya, and night running is common in luhya land. I have never witnessed one but the description you gave is similar to the stories I have been told before.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Hi Jenny, I am glad to read your comment. Luhya’s and Luo’s are neighbors and reading your comments makes me feel there are people out there, who might have heard or witnessed this stranged people called ‘night runners’. Thanks, look forward to hearing from you again.
Betty
July 15th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Hi Betty,
My workmates were discussing this and would like to know more I have never heard of them but would like to know more why anyone would do such a thing?? I read that that Dalen Garris has a video could you please send it to me I would like to see it.
Thank you
Tiya
July 17th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Tiya, thanks. I sent you an email. Will let you know about the videos from Dalen. Will ask him permission. Where are you?
Betty
May 7th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Betty
Thanks for your research l was also disturbed by this running at night and its true it happens in other communities just as you explain though in kalejin and especially the kipsigis where l come from they carry fire and its reported that their wives do give them support but when one is found out he pays by giving 5 cows. What l dont understand is what really drives them to do all this, l can only believe its satanic. I will get a deeper info on this.
Thanks
wesley
May 10th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Wesley, I am yet to find out why Night Runners do what they do at night. It is strange but true!
Betty
January 27th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
I’ve also been wondering why the behavior of night runners has never been discussed in any psychiatry books. I also wonder why African psychiatrists especially from Western Kenya have never bothered to shed any light on this disorder.
I believe night running is a form of obsessive compulsive disorder, probably neurotic in nature. The disorder is characterized by hyperactivity at night and an element of sadism as the patients derive pleasure in being a nuisance to their victims.
The fact that these features are only exhibited at night may indicate the disorder is triggered by fluctuations of certain neurotransmitters. Just like most other psychiatric illnesses, there could be genetic predisposition since this disorder is mainly found among inhabitants of Nyanza and Western Provinces in Kenya and tend to run in families. This could also point to environmental factors.
Since most of these patients and their families are highly stigmatized, there is very little that is known about this disorder. It is almost impossible for any of these patients to seek professional help.
It would be important to conduct a study on the behavior of these night runners though direct observation. The question is, how? I’m thinking of installing hidden CCTV cameras in villages where these problem is common to give an idea on what their behavior entails.May be that can be a starting point. Any other ideas? Please share.
In the mean time, allow me call this disorder: Nocturnal Hyperactivity Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (NHOCP). It is ‘obsessive’ because the behavior is repeated, ‘compulsive’ because they find it hard to resist and ‘nocturnal’ because it only occurs at night.
Jared
January 27th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Jared, your email has a lot of details that I need to do more research. I have an American preacher who visited Kisii and taped former Night Runners. He gave permission to publish it. I will soon. I will definite follow up in this area. Video camera? unless there is electricity at home. My mother is working on having electricity.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Hi Betty, it would be interesting to hear confessions of the former night runners. That might give insights as to the clinical presentation of the disorder. I look forward to reading your publication whenever it is out. Please let me know.
Electricity is a challenge in most parts of rural Kenya. The idea of using powerful zoom cameras fitted with night vision apparatus may be an alternative.Anybody with an idea on how this can be done?
Cheers,
Jared