Nine Members of Same Family Killed in Suspected Arson in Siaya over Land Dispute
A village in Siaya County was plunged into mourning following the deaths of nine members of the same family in a suspected arson attack that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
The incident took place in Upanda Village, located within Sigomre location of Ugunja sub-county. Authorities confirmed that the victims included a 45-year-old man, his wife, and their seven children, all of whom perished in the blaze that consumed their home.
According to preliminary findings by local law enforcement, the fire is believed to have been intentionally set, with police indicating that the incident may be connected to a longstanding and bitter land ownership dispute involving the family. The tragic event has sent shockwaves across the region, prompting widespread outrage and sorrow.
Residents of the area woke up to the horrifying news that the entire household had been wiped out. Eyewitnesses and first responders described a harrowing scene, as the house had been reduced to ashes and nothing could be salvaged from the inferno. Four of the victims were burned beyond recognition, while the remaining five bodies were also severely charred, recovered only after the flames were extinguished.
Among the deceased were a secondary school student who was preparing for national examinations and a six-month-old infant, further amplifying the gravity of the loss and raising critical concerns about the motive and planning behind the attack. The magnitude of the crime has prompted a swift response from authorities.
Law enforcement officials have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack. The bodies of the victims have been transferred to the Siaya County Referral Hospital mortuary, where postmortem examinations are expected to be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death and to gather forensic evidence.
Police have confirmed that one suspect has already been arrested in connection with the crime. The suspect, a woman, is reportedly linked to the land dispute at the center of the incident. It has also emerged that the disputed parcel of land, on which the deceased family resided, was subject to a court-ordered eviction scheduled for Thursday, just one day after the fatal fire.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect was found in possession of a jerrican containing a substance believed to be petrol, which investigators suspect was used as an accelerant in the fire. Witnesses told police that a group of assailants arrived at the scene in a vehicle during the night, locked the doors of the home from the outside, and proceeded to carry out the attack before fleeing.
Nyanza Regional DCI chief Mr. George Mutonya stated that the woman in custody will face charges of arson and murder. He also revealed that the search for additional suspects is ongoing.
“We are looking for more suspects in connection with this heinous act of murder and arson. We believe there are individuals who aided in planning and executing the attack, and we are confident we will bring them to justice,” said Mr. Mutonya.
In the wake of the tragedy, anger and grief among local residents boiled over. A mob descended on the suspect’s residence, setting fire to her home and surrounding structures in a retaliatory act. Security personnel have since been deployed in the area to maintain order and prevent further acts of violence, as tensions remain high.
The shocking incident is part of a worrying trend in the region, where cases of arson and fatal attacks linked to property and land disputes appear to be on the rise. Just last week, a similar attack was reported in Masimba, Kisii County, where five members of another family were killed in an arson incident also believed to be connected to a previous murder case. In that attack, six houses were destroyed, and police investigations are still ongoing.
Authorities have urged members of the public to remain calm and allow the police to carry out their investigations without interference. They have also called for peaceful resolution of disputes through legal means and condemned any form of vigilante justice or retaliatory violence.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy, leaders and human rights organizations have begun calling for greater protection of vulnerable families caught in land disputes, and for the urgent need to address the growing trend of violence over land ownership across the region.
Investigations into both the Siaya and Kisii incidents continue, with law enforcement agencies expressing optimism that justice will be served.
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Nine Members of Same Family Killed in Suspected Arson in Siaya over Land Dispute
