Grief has engulfed Kong’onge Village in Rachuonyo West Sub-county, Homa Bay County, after a 30-year-old woman allegedly took her own life after setting her house on fire, killing two of her children.

‎The woman, identified as Veronica Anyango, is reported to have hanged herself from a tree outside her home after igniting a fire inside the house where her children had been locked in.

‎According to Kayoo Sub-location Assistant Chief Alfred Mbara, preliminary investigations indicate that the woman used petrol to start the fire following a domestic dispute with her husband, Charles Abiero.

‎The administrator said reports suggest the couple had been experiencing marital wrangles, allegedly linked to the husband’s intention to marry a second wife.

‎Neighbours said they initially thought Veronica was cooking when they noticed smoke coming from the house.

However, concern grew when the smoke intensified and the woman remained motionless outside the compound.

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‎Residents rushed to the scene after hearing children screaming for help and managed to rescue two children. Sadly, two others were trapped inside the burning house and died.

‎The bodies of the woman and the two children were taken to the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem examinations as police from Kendu Bay launched investigations into the incident.