Bungoma county – Police in Bungoma North sub-county have launched investigations after a fire incident left a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer dead in Minyali village, Mbakalo location.
Bungoma county
Bungoma Police Station where the report was filed. Photo: Ahmed Mohamed. Source: Twitter
Why did Bungoma KDF officer set his house on fire?
According to a police report seen by TUKO.co.ke, Japhet Wafula Simiyu, a KDF officer based at Gilgil barracks, allegedly set his three-bedroom house ablaze on Sunday, September 24.
The deceased’s father, Daniel Simiyu Wabwile, reported the matter to Mbakalo Police Station under reference number OBNO 03/25/09/2023.
“Japheth Wafula Simiyu, a Luhya male adult aged 36yrs, a KDF officer based at Gilgil barracks but on interdiction (now deceased) set ablaze his permanent three-bedroomed house while he was inside at an unknown time of the night,” police report reads in part.
After several hours, police and public members managed to put the fire off, but the house owner was burned beyond recognition.
“Police officers rushed to the scene and found the house on fire and with the help of the members of the public, they managed to put off the fire, but attempts to salvage any household items were futile as there was a lot of smoke inside. Household items of unknown value were reduced to ashes, and the owner of the house was burned beyond recognition,” the report added.
Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the deceased had domestic problems with his family and was also a drunken person.
The body was removed to Webuye Sub-County hospital mortuary for preservation, awaiting postmortem.
House fire kills four people in Kisii county
In other sad news, a family in Suneka lost four of its kin following a fire that broke out at their home.
According to witnesses, the fire started at around 11pm on Wednesday, September 20. They were alerted by distress calls from the house where six people were: a man, his wife, and their five children.
The neighbours embarked on putting off the fire, which had spread across all rooms.
Efforts to evacuate them did not succeed, as three children died on the spot.
Their mother, who was rescued, was confirmed dead upon arrival at the hospital. The family’s patriarch, Richard Juma Onderi, was rescued with an infant, and both were admitted to the hospital.
By TUKO