A pastor from Meru who lost his wife and three children in a raging inferno says that he has forgiven the arsonists behind the tragic incident.
In an emotional address to the press on Saturday, March 5, Pastor Jediel Munoru noted that he was informed of the unfortunate turn of events of that day through a phone call on Wednesday, March 2.
He was not at his home in Kiutine, Meru County, when the incident occurred in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and is believed to be a work of arsonists.
The clergyman revealed that after holding a crusade event, he had left for Isiolo for different events when he was informed of the tragedy that left him and neighbours shaken.
"I had a crusade last week and wrapped things up on Sunday. I left on Monday morning to escorts guests and the machines we were using.
"I went to attend prayers and on Wednesday morning, I got a phone call from a family member and I was told that my house had gone up in flames and that my wife and three children (passed away)," he stated.
He further added that he had forgiven the suspected arsonists, who are yet to be identified, since it could not have been the work of his wife and children as the family was in good terms.
"We parted ways in harmony after the crusade we had love. We talked on Monday and Tuesday evening. We were in good terms when I went to sleep and I had told them I was going for thanksgiving," he added.
Witnesses noted that they suspected that the inferno was a work of an arsonists since the pastor did not have electricity connection neither did he own a gas cylinder.
From locals' accounts, this was not isolated fire case that had hit the area. One of the witnesses further told the press that most of the fire tragedies in the area had been suspicious since they always occur at 4 a.m.
"I was not asleep, when I peeped outside, I saw a lot of light in my house. I woke up and opened the door but I saw the pastors house was ablaze. The flame was huge and my children woke up," recounted Eunice Thurania, Munoru's neighbour.
Munoru, whose life was spared alongside that of his two other children who were sleeping in a separate room, is now seeking for help from the state and well wishers to give his departed loved ones a befitting send-off.
