Eight die in house fires after domestic disputes

Eight people, including four from one family, died on Tuesday in separate fire incidents.

In Mombasa County, Ms Victoria Mutua, 26, a teacher at Mbaraki Girls Secondary School, her mother, four-year-old son and a relative perished after fire broke out at the home.

Ms Victoria was burnt beyond recognition in the incident that left their neighbours in Likoni in shock.

The other victims were identified as Bahati Mutua, 45, Ms Mutua’s son Ibrahim and their relative only identified as Abeid.

Police suspect that Ms Mutua’s husband, a Tanzanian, who was identified as Frank, 26 must have set the house a blaze.

They are investigating claims that the couple had an argument before the incident.

QUARREL
Mombasa Police Commander Johnstone Ipara said after the quarrel, the suspect allegedly left their house only to return with a jerry can of petrol, poured it round the house and set it ablaze.
Mr Ipara said three other relatives were injured in the night fire and rushed to a nearby hospital.

“The suspect suffered serious burns and is currently at the Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH) receiving treatment while under police guard. We are going to take him to court,” said Mr Ipara.
Four others also died in Embu and Murang'a in separate fire incidents.

A businessman and his one-year-old son were burnt to death, after the man set on fire his wife’s house at Siakago Police Station staff quarters, Mbeere North, following a domestic dispute.

Mr Amos Lengura, 30, a land dealer in Ngong is said to have set the house in which his wife, Jane Leruma,28, a police constable and son were sleeping.

MARRY SECOND WIFE

Neighbours said the two have been embroiled in a quarrel over Mr Lengura’s decision to marry a second wife and the police officer was allegedly irritated whenever she called and another woman answered the phone.

Ms Sheila Josephine,18, who lived with the couple recounted how she miraculously escaped unhurt as the fire consumed the entire house.

She said there was tension since Mr Lengura had another wife in Ngong, where he lived.

However, Sheila said the couple appeared to have buried the hatchet and were ready to talk and was shocked to see the fire.

“He didn’t appear angry when he came home on Monday,” she recounted.

Ms Juliet Mueni, a neighbour said they were woken up by screams from the house on Monday night at around 9.30pm, only to see thick smoke billowing from the house.

She said the child was found on the bed while the man’s body was near the door and the woman had collapsed.
Mbeere North Deputy Commissioner, Christopher Siele said Ms Leruma was rushed to Embu Children’s Hospital, Tenri where she was admitted.

POURED PARAFFIN

“The man poured paraffin around the house and lit the fire which occasioned serious injuries to the wife. The man and a one year old child succumbed to the injuries, ” said Mr Siele.

And, a couple from Kiahiti village of Kigumo Sub-county of Murang’a County died after fire razed down their three bedroomed house on Sunday night.

According to Kigumo OCPD Ibrahim Mchumwa, the man 40 and the woman 62 had been burnt beyond recognition after the 10pm incident.

He said the cause of the fire has not been established saying it razed all the three rooms when the two were fast asleep.

He said according to preliminary investigations, the two were totally drunk, a possible reason for them not to respond to the fire outbreak at their house.

“Initial finding reveals that the two were drunk and were asleep when the fire broke out,” he said.

Reports by Ahmed Mohamed, Ndungu Gachane and Charles Wanyoro