Pastor attempts suicide after burning down in-laws’ house
By Antony Gitonga
Posted Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Residents of a Nyandarua village are in shock after a jilted pastor torched his in-laws’ house, locked himself in his car and set it ablaze.
The pastor was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital nursing severe burns following the incident at Machinery village in Kipipiri.
Anger, condemnation, anxiety and grief gripped the sleepy village as locals tried to come to terms with the bizarre incident.
During the midnight incident the pastor’s wife, children and mother-in-law escaped death narrowly after fleeing through the window from the burning house.
Nothing was salvaged from the stonewalled house while the brand new pick-up belonging to the pastor was reduced to a shell.
Distances shortened
According to a witness, the pastor had arrived in the home for dialogue after the wife fled following a domestic quarrel.
The two parties held a lengthy talk that failed to yield any solution, as the wife still refused to return to her matrimonial home.
"This incensed the pastor who left in a huff promising undisclosed action against the wife and in-laws,"
True to his word, he returned with two jerry cans of petrol and locked the house from outside. He doused it with the liquid before setting it ablaze.
And as the house went up in flames the irate pastor poured the remaining petrol on his car, locked himself in and set it on fire.
"Screams from those in the house alerted neighbours who moved in and put out the fire before rushing the pastor to hospital," said the witness.
Confirming the incident, Kipipiri DC Thomas Sankei said police are investigating the incident.
"We have received the information and the necessary government bodies are working on it while the suspect receives treatment," he said.
Villagers congregated in the home in small groups. They spoke in low tones as they tried to come to terms with the incident.
The house and the pick-up were still smouldering as police took samples and took statements from witnesses.
