Residents of Gilgil town have been left in shock after a man who had fallen out with his wife allegedly set himself on fire and died.
During the Tuesday night incident, more than ten houses near Gilgil railway station were also razed to the ground. Property worth thousands of shillings was destroyed as residents tried in vain to combat the fire.
According to Gilgil police boss Sera Koki, the man set himself ablaze in his house but unable to bear the heat, he fled into a nearby house seeking help, thus spreading the fire.
Koki said that the man is alleged to have taken the decision after they fell out with his wife.
"The neighbours have told us that the couple's problems started two weeks ago after they quarrelled and the wife fled from their home and this allegedly led to the man being depressed and even went ahead and started issuing threats that he would burn himself,” said Koki.
At least 12 houses were burnt down after the fire spread from the man’s house.
"The man fled from his house seeking help but died minutes later,” said Koki.
The police boss said investigations into the incident had started.