An attempt by a man to use a lighter to kill disturbing bedbugs in
his house turned tragic and left his wife dead in Daraja Mbili Market, Kisii
Town.
The man was also left with serious burns after a gas cylinder in
the house burst and caused a huge fire out of the lighter he had lit, witnesses
and police said.
The incident happened September 8, 2025, at the African Home
Apartment at the Galana Estate, police said.
Police were alerted and rushed to the scene, where they found the
house on the third floor of the apartment was on fire.
The man’s wife identified as Esther Cathrene, 35, was burnt beyond
recognition while the husband sustained serious injuries. He was admitted to
hospital in serious condition.
The house help who was present when the fire broke out escaped unhurt.
She disclosed to the police that the deceased's husband was trying
to kill bedbugs using a fire lighter when she heard an explosion. The bedbugs
had been disturbing the couple, she added.
She then saw a huge fire as she escaped from her house while
screaming for help.
A team from the fire department at the local county arrived at the
scene and managed to contain the spread of the fire, which had reduced most of
the household goods to ashes.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy and other
investigations, police said.
A team of experts has visited the scene as part of the probe into
the death and destruction.
Elsewhere in Karuri, Kiambu County, a 25-year-old man identified as Michael Kinyanjui was
killed in a fire incident in his house.
Police said the body was found burnt beyond recognition, long after
the fire had been contained.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established, police said.
Neighbors said they noticed the iron sheet made house on fire and
rushed to help, but it was too late.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy and other investigations.
