Nakuru woman who burnt herself in love triangle rage dies

Jenipher Mathenge a Nursing officer in charge at Rift valley provincial General Hospital attending to Cythia Njoki who sustained 45 percent burns on her body. (PHOTO BY KIPSANG JOSEPH)

Nakuru, Kenya: A woman who set herself on fire over her husband's alleged extra-marital affair succumbed to injuries at the Rift Valley provincial General Hospital.

According to a nurse at the hospital who is not allowed to speak to media, Cynthia Njoki, 28, died on Wednesday night at around 7.

Njoki sustained serious burn injuries in her hands, abdomen, thighs and face after she burnt herself using kerosene following a quarrel with her husband. She suffered burns to 45 per cent of her body.

Njoki from Langa Langa estate said her husband, a mechanic, failed to return home on Saturday night and when he came on Sunday evening, he kept on calling a woman she suspected had an affair with him.

Njoki said she was overcome by anger, went into their bedroom, poured kerosene on her body and set herself alight.

"I had an issue with my husband after he failed to report home and on coming, he continued to call a woman he was having a relationship with. I was angry and burnt myself," Njoki told The Standard at the hospital on Monday before she was pronounced dead.

The mother of one said despite having been faithful in their marriage, the husband was having extra-marital affairs an issue she had raised but he was not ready to change.

She said there are times he could spend nights away with his estranged lovers who intern lost respect for her, an issue that affected their marriage.

Nursing officer in charge of ward 14 Jenipher Mathenge said the patient was received at the hospital last Sunday night at around 8pm in a critical condition.

"The patient was received in a very critical condition, with her hands, face, abdomen and thighs burnt. Her fingers are also totally burnt," Mathenge said.

She said the patient also has breathing problems after she inhaled hot air.