Uasin Gishu: Police officer locks himself in his house, sets it on fire

Police in Uasin Gishu County are investigating an incident in which a fellow officer committed suicide by locking himself up in his house and setting it ablaze from the inside in Emkoin village, Turbo sub-county.

Neighbours who responded to the Saturday morning tragedy said they were alarmed by billowing smoke coming from the victim’s house but it was a little too late when they got to the scene.

One of the neighbours said Inspector Sammy Chirchir’s last born son came to her house on Saturday at around 10 a.m. to inform her that his father had lit mattresses in their house to scare away bees.

“When I came over to inquire I found the entire house on fire and when Chirchir noticed me, he started shouting that we leave him alone. He was moving around the house saying he was not in need of any help,” she said.

It took the intervention of the Uasin Gishu fire brigade team to put off the fire before police arrived to collect the remains of their late colleague.

“We tried our best to break into the house but the fire was intense and before he collapsed in the blaze he kept shouting that we leave his compound to let him die in peace,” added another neighbour.

Chirchir’s wife and his first born son had joined their church members for a video shoot leaving him at home alone.

The father of two was based in Lodwar and had previously worked at Huruma in Eldoret before his transfer to Turkana County.

Turbo sub-county Police Commander Edward Masibo confirmed the incident saying circumstances surrounding the officer’s suicide are still sketchy.