A tragic incident occurred in Homa Bay County, Kenya, where a 30-year-old woman, Veronica Akoth, was found dead in her compound after allegedly setting her house on fire, resulting in the deaths of two of her children. The incident took place on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Details of the Incident
Veronica reportedly locked her four children inside the house before setting it ablaze. The fire claimed the lives of her three-year-old daughter and one-year-old son. Two other children were rescued and are currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital.
According to neighbors, Veronica committed the act around 9 am after her husband and mother-in-law had left for church. A neighbor who raised the alarm said she noticed smoke coming from the house and tried to call Veronica but received no response.
“I was standing at my door when I saw smoke coming from Veronica’s house. At first, I thought she was cooking, but then I realized the smoke was too much. I could see her from a distance, and it looked like she was standing facing away,” said the neighbor.
She rushed to the scene and discovered that Veronica was already dead. In a panic, she opened the house, which was locked from the outside, and two children came out struggling to breathe.
Marital Disputes
Neighbors noted that the couple had been experiencing marital disputes over the past few weeks and had reportedly disagreed the night before the tragic incident. Preliminary reports indicate that Veronica killed her children after her husband expressed intentions to marry a second wife, a development that left her devastated.
“She said she was not willing to be in a polygamous marriage, and that is why she did the terrible act,” added another neighbor. Household items were also burnt to ashes, leaving the husband not only grieving but also counting his losses.
Community Reaction
Javan Owiti, a resident, shared that the entire community was in shock following the tragic incident. He called on couples to find amicable ways of solving disputes to avoid similar situations. “Children are very innocent and it is sad that they suffer the consequences of disputes involving their parents,” he noted.
