Woman kills self, two children after row with husband

A Kisumu resident grieves after a woman burnt herself and her two children in a house at Tieng're village, yesterday. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

A woman killed herself and her two children at Kandalo village on the outskirts of Kisumu town.

Villagers said the woman called her two children to their rented semi-permanent house at around 10am, tied their hands with ropes, doused them with petrol before she set the room on fire.

Neighbours said they could hear muffled screams of the children as the fire spread, but they were unable to rescue them since the door was locked from inside.

The women and her children, identified as Shalin Wasuna, eight, and Osman Wasuna, two, were burnt beyond recognition.

The tragedy was linked to a domestic row between the woman identified as Rukia Anyango and her husband.

Witnesses reported that the woman, who hailed from Gem in Siaya County, had lived in the rented house for six months.

Neighbours said Anyango's husband lived and worked in Eldoret.

Jackline Otieno, a relative, said Anyango was seen leaving her house in the morning carrying a jerrycan.

She returned shortly after and quickly summoned her two children to the house. Moments later, neighbours heard screams and saw smoke billowing from the house.

Ms Otieno recalled that her sister-in-law had showed no sign of distress.

“Yesterday (Sunday) she came to my house to catch up and never disclosed that she was having any problem. We are in shock,” she said.

Local chief Simon Osego said some neighbours had spotted the woman buying petrol at a nearby petrol station.

He said the woman had squabbles with her husband, but he had never received a report that would have needed his intervention. “She killed herself and two children as a result of a quarrel with the husband,” claimed the chief.

Kisumu West OCPD Meshack Kiptum termed the incident a homicide, and said investigation had been launched.

He said reports indicated that the woman was overheard, in the morning, talking to her husband, who seemingly had told her about his intention to marry another wife.

Police retrieved the charred bodies and took them to a mortuary in Kisumu.