Woman sets husband ablaze for coming home late

A Ugandan teacher is recuperating at a hospital in Trans Nzoia County after his wife allegedly set him ablaze for coming home late.

Gabriel Wafula, 47, is a teacher at Muimet Primary in Bukwo district on the Kenya-Uganda border.

He is admitted at Cherang’any Nursing Home in Kitale town.

The incident happened when he came home late, only for his wife of 20 years, Catherine Wafula, to allegedly pour petrol on him before striking a matchstick.

Wafula said he came home at around 10pm but his wife did not let him in.

He resorted to sleeping in his lorry which he had parked outside the home.

"It was at around 1am when my wife opened the door and came to the lorry to ask why I was sleeping in the lorry.

I told her I had knocked but she did not respond. A bitter exchange ensued, attracting the attention of neighbours before she agreed to let me in," Wafula said.

He added that after they got into the house, his wife threaten to set him ablaze using petrol.

“After I went to the bedroom to sleep, my wife came with a bottle of petrol and emptied it on me. Before I could escape, she lit a match and threw it on me," narrated Wafula, adding that neighbours came and rushed him to the nearest health facility."It is my neighbours who came for my rescue. They rushed me to the health centre before I was referred to this facility in Kenya," Wafula said.

Wafula’s brother-in-law, Daniel Mukhwana, said the teacher was taken to the hospital by a Uganda ambulance.

Mukhwana said the suspect had not had any wrangles with her husband.

Officials at the facility said the victim is out of danger and responding well to medication.

Mukhwana urged the police in both Kenya and Uganda to help them arrest Catherine.

Police in Kitale said the incident was reported in Uganda, adding that they are waiting for communication from their counterparts in Uganda for any help required.