A tragic incident has left residents of Kong’onge village in Rachuonyo West Sub-County, Homa Bay County, in shock after a 30-year-old woman allegedly set her house on fire with her four children inside before committing suicide by hanging herself from a tree just next to the house.
According to witnesses, the incident occurred on Sunday morning while the woman’s husband and other family members had gone to church.
Millicent Ochieng, a neighbor, said she was at her home when she noticed smoke billowing from the family’s house. She said she also heard children screaming from inside the house.
“I was at my home when I saw smoke coming from that house. I decided to go and check what was happening. Upon opening the door, which was locked from the outside, two children, a boy and a girl aged 5 and 8 years, respectively, rushed out of the house,” she said, adding that by this time, the house was already totally on fire.
Ochieng immediately raised an alarm, attracting villagers to the scene. However, efforts to rescue the remaining two children, another boy and girl aged 1 and 3 years, respectively, were unsuccessful as the house had already been engulfed in flames.
“I screamed for help, and people came, but we could not save the other two children because the house was full of fire. The children had already been burnt to death,” she added.
Preliminary reports suggest that the deceased woman, Veronica Anyango, may have been involved in a domestic dispute with her husband, Charles Abiero.
Residents alleged that there was a disagreement linked to plans by the husband to marry a second wife, although authorities have not confirmed the claims.
David Ochieng, another neighbor, said everything appeared normal earlier in the day.
“It is possible the couple had domestic issues, though in the morning, things seemed fine. The husband and the grandmother went to church, leaving behind Veronica and the four children. We are trying to understand what really happened that led to this tragedy,” he said.
The two children who survived the inferno were rushed to the hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Another resident, Moses Otieno, recounted discovering the woman’s body after arriving from a journey.
“I passed by the homestead and saw a house on fire. I decided to go and check when I saw the house collapsing. Then I noticed a woman next to a tree nearby, who appeared to be on a phone call, but later realized she was hanging from a rope,” he said.
Senior Assistant Chief of Kayoo Sub-location, Alfred Mbara, confirmed the incident, saying investigations indicate the woman may have locked the children inside the house before setting it ablaze.
“We have come to strongly believe that the couple might have had domestic problems. The husband had gone to church before the incident took place. The woman is believed to have set the house on fire with the children inside before taking her own life by hanging herself,” Mbara said.
The fire destroyed the family’s house and all property inside. Two of the children died in the blaze and were burnt beyond recognition, he added.
Police officers from Kendu Bay responded to the incident and moved the bodies to the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
By Sitna Omar
