A man was on Monday evening arrested after he set his wife ablaze leading to her death.
50-year-old Robert Kipkorir Tanui was arrested by Directorate of Criminal Investigations detectives based in Kericho after he allegedly set ablaze 34-year-old Emmy Chepkoech Mitei following a domestic confrontation.
“On the fateful night at Seanin village of Konoin in Bomet County, the 50-year-old suspect attacked the victim who has been a deputy head teacher of a local primary school and whom he had separated with for some time forcing her back to her father’s house,” said the DCI.
Armed with a container of petrol and a matchbox, the suspect marched into the victim’s house, poured the petrol on her before setting her ablaze. He then disappeared after locking the door from the outside.
Neighbors who rushed in response to her screams managed to put out the fire which had extended to the rest of the house, rushing her to hospital with severe burns which she succumbed to on 7th October 2020.
“Acting on intelligence, Kericho detectives who were trailing the suspect after establishing he had a hideout within the county, netted him at Kericho-Kisumu road while boarding a matatu to an unknown destination,” said the DCI.