A woman is in custody over the deaths of nine members of the same family in Upanda village, Ugunja sub-county, Siaya, on Tuesday night. 

The family had recently won a long-standing land case at the Ukwala Law Courts, and the other party was expected to be evicted today; it is believed the fire was a revenge attack.

The family’s house was engulfed in fire and had been locked from outside, village elder Naftali Otieno told police. 

Officers from the Sigomere police station established that the house belonged to Ouma Opondo Adalla. 

Locals helped put out the fire before discovering nine bodies, some of which were burnt beyond recognition. 

The deceased people, aged between six months and 45 years, were killed in an arson attack, including Opondo (aged 45), his wife Jacinta Ouma (38), Lorine Ouma (17) and Sheila Ouma (12), Meline Ouma (15), and Davis Ouma (nine). 

The others were Brian Ouma (7), Leon Ouma (five), and Noela Ouma (six months). 

Four of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. The bodies were transferred to the Ambira sub-county mortuary as police started investigating the fire. 

Land case 

According to police, the family had a longstanding land case, and a court had recently ruled in their favour. 

As a result, the other party was to be evicted from the disputed land today. 

“One suspect, Rosaline Atieno Okello, has been arrested and a container suspected to have been used [to carry] … the petrol [used in the fire] recovered and kept as a crucial exhibit,” the DCI said. 

She will face murder and arson charges once investigations are completed, Nyanza regional head of DCI George Mutonya said.

“Our detectives are looking for more suspects in connection with this murder and arson. The arrested suspect is being grilled to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.”

Witnesses told police that the arsonists arrived in a car and escaped after setting the house on fire. 

In retaliation, enraged residents descended on her home, setting both the main house and surrounding farm structures ablaze. 

As tension rose in the area, additional officers were deployed to prevent further violence and attacks.