Police in Mombasa are investigating an incident in which a father reportedly killed his two sons before torching their bodies in Bombolulu, Nyali Sub-county.

The suspect identified as Jackson Chacha, 58, is said to have first killed the boys by strangulation, before dousing kerosene in their bedroom and lighting a candle to burn the room as he fled from the scene.

Hours before the incident, the suspected is said to have sent a neighbour’s child to buy the kerosene.

The lifeless bodies of Dan Malwa, eight, and David Jackson, four, were found lying on the bed after the fire was put out. The boys were Grade Two and PP1 pupils at Hope Junior Academy respectively.

“The incident happened at around 2am when we woke up to fumes of smoke and noise. The room was all in flames. The elder daughter was in the sitting room. We asked her where the other kids were and she said she was not aware of their whereabouts,” said Garama Kahindi, one of the neighbours who witnessed the incident.

The suspect’s spouse, Maria Boke, 27, confirmed that she has been in a protracted dispute with her husband of 10 years. She said he had been asking her to leave the matrimonial home after an argument. While she was away, she received a call informing her of the incident.

“He has been telling me to leave but I never suspected anything. Yesterday he forced me out and I decided to leave. I was called at night that my kids were torched. He later called me and told me that he has strangled them and burned the two boys,” said Boke.

The suspect’s phone has since been switched off. Nyali sub-county police commander Daniel Masaba said police have launched a manhunt for the suspect who is being sought.

“We are investigating the incident. Bodies of the deceased have been taken to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem,” said Masaba.