19-year-old man torches house after second wife marriage proposal rejected

A 19-year-old man set his house on fire in an attempted suicide after his family allegedly rejected his proposal to marry a second wife at Nyakondo village, Nyatike Sub County in Migori County Monday, June 19 evening.

The man, identified as Juma Kibathare, while trying to commit suicide was overwhelmed by the heat from the burning house and escaped before the worried locals arrived to evict him.

However, nothing was salvaged from the burning house.

Confirming the incident, South East Muhuru Location Chief, Mr Jim Kawa, said that the man was angered by the objection of the family on his quest to marry a second wife and, therefore, decided to commit suicide.

“The incident forced the lady whom he had proposed to marry as second wife to flee,” said the Chief.

He added that the family declined his proposal to marry the second wife because of his young age, poor financial status and having stayed for only two years in the first marriage in which they currently have one child.

Mr Juma later returned home and spent the night with his first wife and the child in the cold under a tree after razing down his house.

Written by Elizabeth Kibor