This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On Saturday, a 26-year-old woman, Lucy Nyira, was admitted to the Nakuru Level 5 hospital with 25 percent burns after her husband allegedly set her on fire for returning late from Nairobi.
According to hospital officials, Lucy succumbed to her injuries on Friday morning while undergoing treatment.
Lucy's husband, Bernard Kahila, a mechanic at Free Area Trading Centre, had reportedly poured petrol on her and set her on fire.
Neighbours claimed that Lucy's husband had been abusive and had locked her outside their house, forcing her to spend time at a neighbour's house with her children before returning home at around 9pm.
At around 9:30 pm, neighbours heard faint screams and smelled petrol, prompting them to break down the door and find Lucy on fire. Her husband, Bernard Kahila, was reportedly terrified and helped put out the fire.
The matter was reported at the Teachers Police Post in Menengai, and Bernard Kahila was detained before being taken to Central Police station in Nakuru town.
He is currently being held at Nakuru GK prison remand after police requested more time to finalize their investigations.
