A man from Nyamache, Kisii County, reportedly set his whole family on fire after the wife's parents rejected their marriage.
Abraham Moseti had gone to seek the girl's hand in marriage when her parents informed them that they belonged to clans which traditionally were not allowed to marry.
Mr Moseti and 24-year-old Alice Okemwa, who already had a 1-year-old child, had been co-habiting in Nairobi.
“This young man, met our daughter Alice Okemwa who is only 24 years old in Nairobi a year ago, but when they came home, we told them they could not get married as they were related. Omokiama and Omometobo clans never intermarry. It is a taboo,” said a relative to the wife.
After receiving the news, Moseti is said to have gotten angry, promising the family that he would 'do something' about the issue.
According to family members, the man broke the window of a room which housed his wife and child, then poured petrol on them. He proceeded to set them on fire after which he lit himself.
“It was just after nine in the evening when I heard screams... and when I rushed to help, the fire was too strong to salvage anything,” said a witness.
Moseti was allegedly shouting saying that he wanted to burn together with his whole family.
Confirming the incident, County Police Commander Simon Kiragu said that the toddler died on the spot while Moseti and his wife perished while undergoing treatment.
