Woman, three children die in suspected arson attack

Members of the public mill around the scene where a woman and her three children died in a suspected arson attack in Nyamasaria, Kisumu County. [Clinton Ambujo, Standard]

Police in Kisumu are investigating an incident where a woman and her three children were killed in an alleged arson attack.

Police are looking for the 40-year-old woman's ex-lover suspected to have set on fire the iron-sheet wall house at around 2 am Thursday.

Kisumu East Sub-County Police Commandant Joseph Obara said police and the firefighting brigade from Kisumu and neighbors put out the fire but it was too late as the woman and her children has already succumbed.

"Our officers rushed to the scene and found an iron sheet wall house on fire. We informed the fire brigade and we were able to put out the fire. However, the house was burnt completely," Obara said.

The police boss said the prime suspect and the woman had a long-standing dispute and at one point he assaulted her.

"He was previously arrested and charged in court after he allegedly assaulted the deceased woman before he was released on bond," he said.

Obara urged the public especially couples to embrace alternative ways of solving disputes.

Phenix Kimberley, 24, a neighbor. said efforts to save the four from the jaws of death were futile as their house was locked by the arsornist.

The incident also left seven other families homeless after their houses were burnt down in the early morning fire.