An 84-year-old man was burnt to death after a fire razed his home in Mesigi Village, Bogiakumu Sub-location, Kisii County, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The victim, identified as Joseph Omete Olidi, is believed to have been asleep in his bedroom when the fire engulfed his four-room permanent house, leaving him trapped inside.
According to police, the incident was reported at around 7:20 a.m. on Tuesday before they visited the scene and established that the house had been completely destroyed by the blaze.
Investigators said the deceased had been served supper on Monday evening by his 11-year-old granddaughter at around 7:30 p.m. He was reportedly eating in the living room while using a candle and also had a torch with him.
At about 5 a.m. on Tuesday, a passerby noticed flames coming from the house and raised an alarm.
Residents responded and managed to extinguish the fire using water from nearby sources, but by then the blaze had spread through all four rooms of the house.
Police said the elderly man sustained severe burns and died inside the house. All household items were also destroyed in the inferno.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire may have originated in the living room after a lit candle was left unattended when the victim retired to bed.
Crime scene investigators processed the scene before the body was moved to Nyangena Private Hospital Mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.
Authorities have launched further investigations into the incident.
And police in Nyamira County have launched investigations into the murder of a 35-year-old man whose body was discovered by the roadside on Tuesday morning.
The deceased, identified as Elijah Motanya Bokura, was found lying lifeless near Rirumi Secondary School in Rirumi Village, Kebirigo Sub-location, within Bonyamatuta Masaba Location.
Police visited the scene and established that the deceased had sustained deep cut wounds on the back of the head and around the mouth, indicating he may have been attacked by unknown assailants.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Bokura had left Kebirigo Shopping Centre on Monday evening at around 7:30 p.m. in the company of his brother, the complainant, and another man identified as Zacharia Senda.
His wife later told investigators that he arrived home at about 8:00 p.m. but left shortly afterwards, informing her that he was attending a night vigil at a neighbour’s residence.
He was found dead the following morning near the school under circumstances that police have described as suspicious.
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) personnel from Nyamira County processed and documented the scene before the body was moved to Nyamira County Referral Hospital Mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.
Police have commenced investigations to establish the motive behind the killing and identify those responsible.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
