Woman burnt to death in alleged ‘love gone sour’ incident

By Kevine Omollo

Kisumu, Kenya: A woman has burnt to death in her former employer’s shop within Kibuye Market, Kisumu County in a suspected ‘love gone sour’ incident.

The 23 year-old woman said to have been a former ‘lover’ to the shop owner locked herself in the shop on Monday night and set the premise ablaze.

Sources said the woman had been working as a salesperson to the shop owner but was sacked few weeks ago under unclear circumstances.

The sources said there had been wrangles between the woman and the shop owner over an alleged love affair which was dwindling.

It is believed that this squabble pushed the woman to commit suicide in the shop leading to ten other adjacent stalls burning.

“There have been issues between the two since the woman was sacked and it has been more than employment issues,” said a witness.

Witnesses who responded to the fire calls discovered the body lying on the floor.

“The lady has taken long before she is seen around here but yesterday she appeared in the evening and we believe she had come to culture the motive,” said a witness.

County Police Commandant David Ng’etich confirmed the incident saying the shop owner has been held by the police to shed more light over the allegations.

“We have held the man and he is going to give us his side of the story and much will be gotten from police investigations which has also commenced,” said Ng’etich.

The body was taken to New Nyanza Provincial Hospital mortuary.

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