A man set fire to his mother’s houses around 2.00 am on Wednesday in Mwerumuthanga in Meru County.
When the fire started, the mother said she called for help from neighbors, but they did not respond. She went for a walk and met some people along the way, but she came back because she was feared for her life. She stood there, watching the house burn down.
“I reported the incident, but no one has come to assist me. I’m spending the night at a neighbor’s houses and don’t have any blankets or a bed,” she said.
“The fire destroyed children’s uniforms, textbooks, and shoes. We have nothing to eat and am pleading with well-wishers for assistance.
“I’ve been facing a challenge since my husband’s death. I had purchased a solar panel with the proceeds from ballast crushing, as well as a television with money earned from manual labor.
“My son came at 2:00 a.m. and set fire to my house. I’m wondering if he’s mentally ill, because if I’d known, he’d have been taken to Mathare hospital.
“I usually go to bed at 3 a.m. after ensuring that he sleeps first because I’m afraid he’ll hack or burn us.
“He returned home after being released from Embu prison and began smoking bhang. He used to steal and sell anything I bought, such as a goat or food.
“I’ve been suffering because I’m accustomed to spending the night at my neighbors’ houses. When he stole food, I had to borrow it from my neighbors in order to feed the remaining children.
“I want him imprisoned, and I have no mercy for him because if he did, he would not have burned down my valuable property. He set fire to two buildings,” she said.
