A family in Mumias, Kakamega County was forced to spend Thursday night in the cold after their landlady set their house ablaze over a disagreement on payment of house rent.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Caroline Mukolwe approached her tenant; Teresia Ayeng, on Thursday evening demanding for rent amounting to Ksh.800 but she could not raise the full amount at the time.
Ayeng instead offered the landlady Ksh.400 pledging to clear the balance in a few days but she declined and demanded the full amount.
“…the seemingly impatient landlady who would hear none of her pleas for more time to raise the rest of the money, rushed back to her house and came back running holding a bottle full of kerosene and a matchbox,” said the DCI on Friday.
The landlady is then said to have stormed the woman’s house and doused her belongings with kerosene before setting them ablaze.
According to eyewitnesses, Ms. Ayeng watched helplessly as her belongings were consumed by the fire.
“As Ayeng tearfully watched all her earthly possessions valued at Sh47,000 go up in flames, the landlady triumphantly paced up and down the scene of the fire in jubilation,” added the DCI.
Police officers in Mumias have since arrested the suspect pending arraignment.
