Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Lamu are searching for a former police officer who allegedly burnt his son's family killing his daughter-in-law, Esha Said in the process.
According to a report by People Daily, the suspect, Iddi Bonea Barisa, reportedly doused the family of four in petrol before setting the house ablaze.
Confirming the incident, Coast Region Police Commander Rashid Yakub disclosed that Barisa was being hunted down for the incident reported in Kipini Police Station.
The officer's son who was together with his wife sustained serious injuries in the matter that occurred at Chakamba in Witu area, Lamu.
Addressing the press, Barisa's wife disclosed that she had split from the former officer and blamed him for the tragedy that befell the family.
She disclosed that the two separated eight years ago and the former officer visited their home armed with a jerrican of petrol at 2 p.m. before the attack happened at 11 p.m. that night.
She further noted that her ex-husband had earlier threatened to deal with the family.
Police officers and neighbours of the family rushed to the scene, rescued the family and took them to Mpeketoni Hospital where Said succumbed as she had suffered severe burns.
A report by The Atlantic Magazine in the US noted that domestic violence meted on spouses of people who work (Or have worked) in law enforcement was much higher than any other.
National Center for Women and Policing noted, "Two studies have found that at least 40 per cent of police officer families experience domestic violence, in contrast to 10 per cent of families in the general population. A third study of older and more experienced officers found a rate of 24 per cent, indicating that domestic violence is two to four times more common among police families than normal families in general."
In Kenya, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted that six people had died at the hands of Police brutality just 10 days into the dusk-to-dawn curfew commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"The police, without apparent justification, shot and beat people at markets or returning home from work, even before the daily start of the curfew. Police have also broken into homes and shops, extorted money from residents or looted food in locations across the country," remarked the HRW.
