A devastating fire believed to be a result of arson has claimed the lives of nine family members in Upanda Village, Ugunja Constituency, Siaya County, leaving the community in deep mourning and disbelief.

The incident, which occurred in the dead of night on Tuesday, wiped out an entire household — a man, his wife, and their seven children — in what authorities suspect was a targeted attack stemming from a land feud.

Among the victims were a Form Four student and a six-month-old infant. Authorities reported that four of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition, underscoring the intensity of the blaze that consumed the family’s home and all its contents.

Shocked residents who woke up to the grim discovery said the family had been entangled in a long-standing land dispute with a neighbor, raising suspicions that the attack may have been premeditated.

“We couldn’t salvage anything. Everything is gone — the house, the family, their belongings. It’s hard to believe such cruelty exists,” a shaken resident said.

Retaliation and Arrests

In the wake of the suspected arson, irate villagers reportedly stormed the homestead of a suspect and set fire to his main and farmhouses in retaliation.

Police confirmed that one suspect had already been taken into custody as investigations continue. Officers have also intensified patrols in the area to prevent further violence and ensure calm is restored.

The charred remains of the victims were taken to the Siaya County Referral Hospital morgue, where postmortem examinations are expected to shed more light on the attack.

Separate Road Tragedy

Meanwhile, in a separate incident on Tuesday evening, two boda boda riders were left critically injured following a serious accident near Sigomere Police Station along the road to Madungu.

Eyewitnesses described the crash as “near fatal,” and the victims were rushed to Siaya Referral Hospital for emergency treatment.

As authorities pursue justice for the grieving community, the village of Upanda remains tense, with many calling for swift and firm action to bring the perpetrators to book.