Murder
Police in Kisumu East Sub-County are probing an incident where a woman and her three children burnt inside their house in Nyamasaria along Kisumu-Nairobi highway. The suspected arsonist who is husband and father to the deceased is said to have locked the door from outside before setting the iron sheet constructed house on fire.
Confirming the incident, Kisumu East Sub-County Police Commander Joseph Obara said police officers arrived at the scene at 3:00 am with the fire brigade and managed to put out the fire. Obara said police officers discovered the charred remains of the four after putting out the fire with the help of neighbours.
The suspect, identified as Joseph Otieno, who is still at large, is said to have a pending case in court following a previous attack on his wife. Police officers are in hot pursuit of the suspect as investigations into the incident continue.
A section of the house that was torched killing four people in Kisumu.
Photos By Owen Yimbo
Everlyne Waruku, a neighbour, said she was woken up by screams for help from the ill-fated house. “I got out and found the house on fire and alerted the other neighbours. We tried to rescue them but our efforts bore no fruits as the door had been locked from outside with a padlock,” she said.
The fire, she added, quickly spread to her house where she injured her hand while trying to salvage her belongings. “I have lost everything including money, mobile phones and other very important documents,” she said. Waruku said the suspect had previously attempted to burn the house but the neighbours were able to rescue the woman and that the incident had been reported at Nyamasaria Police station.
Edwin Owino, also a neighbour blamed the incident on the inaction of the police saying the four lives could not have been lost had the suspect been charged and locked up.