In the early hours of July 16, a horrific scene unfolded in Bulapesa, Isiolo town, when a fire, allegedly set deliberately, claimed the lives of a mother and her four children. The suspected perpetrator? Another woman, reportedly entangled in a bitter love triangle with the deceased.
What began as whispers of a domestic dispute has now erupted into national mourning and outrage, after People Daily reported the chilling details of a family burned alive in their home.
The house was completely destroyed by the midnight blaze, and not a single life inside could be saved. The children, aged between 7 and 15, died alongside their mother, leaving the community in shock and anguish.
Eyewitnesses and family members say the fire was no accident. Preliminary reports allege that the woman responsible was driven by revenge, following a romantic fallout involving the victim.
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Abdi Duba, a heartbroken relative of the deceased, said the family rushed to the scene as soon as they heard about the fire, but the flames were too intense to control. “The firefighting department did not respond to our distress calls,” he lamented. “We don’t know why this happened. We just want answers.”
What followed the fire was equally disturbing. An angry mob hunted down the suspected arsonist, lynched her, and set her house ablaze. Tensions ran so high that the mob even threatened to attack the suspect’s children at school. Fortunately, authorities acted swiftly to protect the children, who are now in safe custody.
Chief Abdi Dida called the event “a sad incident that has never happened in Isiolo,” highlighting the deep trauma and unrest it has caused. Elder Omar Godana also condemned the tragedy, urging the community to seek nonviolent ways of resolving personal disputes.
As preparations for the burial of the five victims were underway just a few meters from the scene of the crime, grief hung heavy in the air.
The incident has not only torn apart a family but also ignited fear and rage within the community. Authorities have promised a thorough investigation, but the event has already exposed glaring gaps in emergency response and raised serious questions about mob justice and emotional instability driven by love and jealousy.
This tragedy is a painful reminder of the cost of unresolved conflict and the urgent need for peacebuilding and stronger community structures to prevent such devastating losses in the future.
