A Kabarnet Court on Tuesday arraigned a middle-aged man for setting ablaze his matrimonial house, reducing property and valuables estimated at more than Kes 400,000 to ashes.
Appearing before Kabarnet Court Senior Resident Magistrate Edwin Mulochi, Nelson Kipyegon was charged with Arson, contrary to Section 332 (a) of the Penal Code.
Particulars of the Charge stated , “ October 22, this year, at about 10pm at Tiloi village in Baringo North Sub-county, within Baringo County, Kipyegon willfully and unlawfully burnt a family house, which had valuables worth over Kes 400,000 reducing it into ashes.”
However, the accused vehemently denied ever causing the fire at a time when the kids were fast asleep.
“Your honour, I did not set the house on fire. This is just a fabrication,” he said.
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According to a police report, Kipyegon had quarreled with the wife when he came home late and started asking for a knife, which he usually keeps at the top of the upper bed, but the wife had moved it to the sitting room.
The wife is said to have been frightened by the demand and managed to escape from the house to call the neighbors, who found the house already set ablaze, but they managed to rescue three children trapped in the fire.
Further, the Court was told that the lady and the children spent the night at a neighbor’s house before reporting the matter to Kabartonjo Police Station the following day.
The Court was also told that the husband has been beating and threatening his wife on several occasions while armed with a panga and knife while telling her there is nowhere she will take him because he can kill her and take her to the grave.
The case will be mentioned on November 11, when a hearing date will be taken, with four witnesses lined-up to testify.
