Christopher Okello Owino, a 56-year-old man, has been arrested as the main suspect in a tragic arson attack in Siaya County that resulted in the deaths of nine people.
He was taken into custody at his home in Kibra, Nairobi, while having dinner with his children.
The deadly fire occurred on the night of April 23 in Upanda village, where a family of nine lost their lives. The victims included Ouma Opondo, his wife Wilkister Anyango, and their seven children: Lorene (17), Melvin (15), Sheila (12), Davis (9), Ryan (7), Noela (5), and Leon (6 months). The family was asleep when the fire broke out.
Residents became suspicious of Owino after he claimed he was at his rural home during the fire.
This prompted them to alert the authorities, leading to his quick arrest. Investigators were able to track him down just hours after the fire, based on tips from the community.
On the night of the incident, Owino had invited church members to his Kibra home for prayers, claiming that his own house had been set on fire in a retaliatory attack by angry villagers from Upanda.
However, his story raised doubts among residents who knew the timeline of events.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise and smelling petrol shortly before the flames engulfed the family’s home.
Sylvester Omondi, who looked after the family’s property, recalled the terrifying moment he realized something was wrong.
He tried to raise the alarm and break down the door to help the family escape, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
Local assistant chief Robert Odongo learned about the fire around 1:00 AM and coordinated with police to respond.
When they arrived, the house was already fully engulfed, and preliminary investigations suggested arson as the likely cause.
In a significant development, police discovered an oil can, believed to have been used to start the fire, at Owino’s home. This evidence led to the arrest of his wife on April 23, before Owino was apprehended.
Kibra sub-county police commander Patricia Yegon confirmed the arrests and stated that they are collaborating with the Ugunja police to investigate further.
Owino’s mobile phones have been seized for analysis to identify any possible accomplices involved in the crime.
By Nairobi