Five injured, property lost in arson attack

Onlookers watch a container set ablaze by angry residents burn in Salgaa Friday. The residents accused the owers of the container of  hiring goons to carry out an arson attack in the area. [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD]

By LEONARD KULEI

Nakuru, Kenya: Five members of a family in Salgaa area in Nakuru County were admitted to Rongai District Hospital after unknown people set three house on fire.

Ayub Njoroge, 35, the father of the five children who sustained injuries during the incident, said about ten masked men drove into his compound in three vehicles at 5am yesterday and set his three houses on fire before proceeding to the neighbouring homesteads.

“I was awoken by lights of vehicles entering the compound and when I went to check, I found masked men  dousing the houses with petrol. My wife and children were inside but the arsonists warned me against trying to rescue them,” said Njoroge.

He said the arsonists, who were armed with machetes and other crude weapons, fled after he raised an alarm.

Erected fence

“My neighbours responded quickly and rescued my family who were trapped in the burning house. My five children are admitted at the Rongai District Hospital,” he said.

John Muturi, a resident, said his house was also torched and some property, including three harvesting machines, destroyed.

Residents of Moya Set Scheme said unknown people have been erecting a chain link fence around the 100-care land for the last one month.

“This fence was erected by around 30 men and whenever we asked on whose orders they were acting, they threatened us,” said Njoroge.

Angry residents protesting against the attack demolished the fence and set ablaze a container which they said was being used by the private land developer suspected to be behind the evictions to store building materials.

Rongai OCPD Joseph Mwamburi said the incident was a criminal, adding that they had launched a manhunt for the perpetrators. “Issues pertaining land are very complicated and involves a lot of legal processes. Before someone buys land, they should clearly ascertain the genuine owners to avoid such incidences,” he said.