‘Majini’ burn seven houses in Kakamega

 Some of the houses which bunt at Lonidah Ambululi's homestead at Elwesero village Kakamega County

A family is planning to visit a witchdoctor regarding a mysterious fire that gutted seven houses in Kakamega County.

The fire is said to have started at night as the family was having supper.

Though the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, locals believe majini were sent to burn down the grass-thatched houses.

The incident has left village elders scratching their graying heads, unable to establish what could be the possible cause of the fire that has left the family counting loses.

No causalities were reported, even though the sixth incident nearly claimed the life of a Standard Seven pupil had his mother, Lonidah Ambululi, not ventured outside before retiring to bed.

“I am lucky that I went outside before retiring to bed, otherwise my son would be no more. Immediately I stepped out, I realised the house had caught fire. My son was inside the burning house. I shouted for help as the fire spread, fast,” Ambululi told The Nairobian, adding that the fires “normally start at night when we are having our supper. It is hard to sleep, we are keeping vigil every night.”

The elders, led by 83-year-old Joseph Andabwa opted to postpone a meeting that had been scheduled for July 18, following the burning down of another house earlier on July 16.

“I have never seen such a thing since I was born. We are going to meet as elders to try and find a solution to the fires. We do not want to see another house gutted by fire,” said Andabwa, adding that it was not normal for seven houses to be reduced to ashes within two weeks.

 Justus Ambululi, one of the victims of the fires, is unable to cope up with life after failing to salvage his belongings from his house.

“I had just arrived from work and sat down to have supper only to see my house burning. We tried to save our belongings, but the fire spread so fast to make that possible,” he narrated.