Panic gripped Gakoe Village in Kiambu County after a suspected intruder died in a house fire he started while trapped inside.
The homeowner said she was in her timber house when she discovered one bedroom wall had been broken into earlier by an unknown person.
She called a neighbor who helped repair the wall. After preparing supper, she moved her 6‑kilogram gas cylinder into the bedroom for safekeeping.
It was then that she noticed a man hiding under her bed. Alarmed, the elderly woman ran outside and alerted neighbors. Residents quickly gathered, surrounding the house to prevent the intruder from escaping.
Realizing he was trapped, the intruder opened the gas cylinder and lit a match, causing a fire to erupt inside the bedroom.
Flames spread quickly, destroying part of the house and household items. The suspect sustained severe burns to his face, hands, and abdomen, leading to his death at the scene.
The body of the unidentified man was later taken to mortuary for preservation and postmortem examination. Authorities are working to establish his identity and motive.