University Lecturer Asks for Help as Fire Razes Down House, Kills Husband: "Lost Everything"
- Kabianga University lecturer Sella Chepkwony lost her husband and all possessions in a house fire in Kapchorwa, Nandi county
- DCI detectives are investigating the cause of the fire, with early findings suggesting the husband may have tried to escape or was attacked during the incident
- Chepkwony is seeking support for funeral expenses and rebuilding, as family and friends rally around her during this difficult time
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Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Nandi: A Kabianga University lecturer, Sella Chepkwony, is reeling from heartbreak after a devastating fire reduced her home in Kapchorua to ashes, claiming not just her possessions, but the life of her beloved husband.
Source: Getty Images
How did Sella Chepkony's husband die?
In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, she recounted the events surrounding her husband's tragic death in a house fire on Tuesday, April 29.
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According to the lecturer, a worker at their home heard a loud bang and rushed to investigate, only to find the sitting room engulfed in flames.
“He shouted for help, and neighbours ran to try and extinguish the fire. They also began searching for my husband, who was in the house.They even broke the bedroom window, but he was not inside," she said.
Chepkwony recalled painfully that, after further searching, her husband was found near the sitting room door, his body on fire.
“They found him by the door. He was trying to get out but didn’t make it,” she said, adding that a pair of pliers and a knife were recovered next to his body.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) later suggested the tools may indicate that her husband was either trying to escape or had been attacked.
Chepkwony, who was at work when the fire occurred, only received the devastating news hours later.
"My neighbours called me at around 1am on Wednesday, April 30," she said.
Her husband’s body was taken to the Samaritan Hospital mortuary as preparations for burial continue. A fundraiser is scheduled for May 11, and the funeral is planned for May 15.
Was anything saved from Chepkwony's home?
The blaze reduced everything in its path to ashes, leaving behind not only physical devastation but also emotional scars for those who knew the deceased.
Chepkwony said the tragedy brought profound personal grief and inflicted a heavy financial loss, with property worth millions of shillings destroyed in the fire.
“We lost everything, including my husband. If he were still alive, rebuilding would be easier. But now that he's gone, I don't even know where to begin," she said, her voice filled with pain.
She noted that the cause of the fire remains unknown, but detectives from the DCI are continuing their investigation to determine what may have started the blaze.
“The kitchen was unaffected, so the fire did not originate there. Even the solar panels were untouched. But investigations are still ongoing," she said.
Is Chepkwony appealing for help?
In the aftermath of the tragedy, family and friends have rallied around Chepkwony, offering support as she begins the difficult journey of rebuilding her life.
“We need help. Even those who witnessed the fire and saw my husband need counselling," she said.
Those wishing to support her with funeral expenses or help her rebuild her life can reach out at +254 724 793881 (Sellah Jerop Chepkwony).
9 family members die in fire
In a separate incident, authorities in Ugunja sub-county investigated a suspected arson attack that claimed the lives of nine members of one family in Upanda village, Sigomre sub-location, on Tuesday, April 22.
Source: Facebook
The victims included Ouma Opondo, his wife Wilkister Anyango, and their seven children — Lorene, 17; Melvin, 15; Sheila, 12; Davis, 9; Ryan, 7; Noela, 5; and six-month-old Leon.
Officials said the family was asleep when unidentified individuals allegedly set their home on fire.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
