A tragic incident occurred when a 22-year-old man reportedly burnt his parents’ house in Vihiga county following a dispute over a bag.
In a video seen by the Star, the events unfolded when the son demanded for the father to buy him a bag.
An altercation ensued as the son demanded for the bag immediately.
The son then lost his temper after the bag request was delayed, prompting him to set the house on fire.
The flames consumed every household item in the house and left the family in the cold.
“I have been faced with tragedy after my house was burnt by my son. I would like to request for well-wishers to assist me because I don’t have a place to sleep because everything has been burned, even at night I will now be forced to sleep in the cold,” the father said in despair.
“The house got burnt because of a bag my son wanted at the moment…delaying the request prompted him to burn the house which left me wondering what happened.”
The father added that the san ran away after executing the act.
His father’s sentiments were reiterated by the mother whose tears were streaming as she narrated how her child lost his temper.
The son’s actions left his parents reeling in despair and confusion as they wondered what could have pushed their son to such extreems.
The parents who are now pondering their next move are now calling on well wishers and the government to assist them rebuilt a new home after they incurred losses from the incident.
Acts of arson are governed by Section 332 of the Penal Code, which defines arson as wilfully and unlawfully setting fire to a building, structure, vessel, stack of produce or fuel, or a mine, and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The act of setting fire must be done intentionally and without any legal justification.
Section 333 of the Penal Code deals with attempts to commit arson, which carries a penalty of imprisonment for 14 years.
The Grass Fires Act and the Fire Inquiry Act also address fire-related issues, including setting fire to vegetation and inquiries into the cause of fires.
by JAMES GICHIGI
