Nine family members killed in suspected arson attack in Siaya

Nine family members died in a suspected arson attack in Sigomre, Siaya County, on Tuesday night.

The man, his wife, and their seven children were asleep when their house was set ablaze by unknown individuals.

Sylvester Omondi, the caretaker of the home, said he discovered the fire around midnight after he woke up to the smell of petrol.

Omondi told Citizen Digital he found the main house engulfed in flames and locked from the outside, and attempts to break the door bore no fruit.

The area assistant chief, Robert Odongo, confirmed he received reports of the fire at about 1:00 a.m. before he coordinated with the police and rushed to the scene, where they found the house still ablaze.

The assistant chief said preliminary investigations suggest arson as the cause of the fire, although authorities are probing the exact circumstances.