A 22-year-old man on Thursday morning escaped death by a whisker after his house burnt in a suspected arson incident at Abom village in Bondo, Siaya County.
Isaac Ochieng’ was asleep at around 2 a.m. when he awoke to find his two-roomed grass-thatched house already on fire.
According to Siaya County Police Commander Cleti Kimaiyo, Ochieng’ reported the incident at Lwala Kotiende police station, saying his house had been set ablaze by unknown people.
He reported that he managed to escape unhurt and then raised the alarm before members of his family responded and managed to put out the fire.
Ochieng’ told the police that during the incident, the fire consumed his bed and assorted clothing, among other household items.
Mr Kimaiyo stated that even though the cause of the fire has not yet been established, Ochieng highly suspects that his house may have been burnt by one of the youths with whom he had picked a quarrel over a debt that he owes.
The county police boss said officers from the police station visited and documented the scene, adding that investigations have begun to ascertain the real cause of the fire.
