A terrifying incident occurred in Rwathia village, Karumandi ward, Kirinyaga County, Kenya, as a 48-year-old man set his house on fire, dug his grave, and committed suicide.
Joel Muthike was identified by eyewitnesses as the man who set his semi-permanent house on fire and reportedly used a panga (machete) to impede any attempts by members of the public to put out the fire.
It was gathered that after the house was burnt to ashes, Muthike turned his rage to his livestock.
A villager said;
“I have never seen anything like it, he chased us away when we tried to put out the fire."
Muthike killed himself using a rope he had been using to tether his goat. His body was found swinging from a tree in his farm.
“I am deeply shocked because I have never seen him fuming with such kind of rage."
His brother, Elias Murimi noted that they intend to bury the remains of the diseased in the grave that he had begun to dig.
Murimi said;
“We have no other option but to bury my brother in the grave that he was digging."
Kirinyaga East Police Commander Antony Mbogo confirmed the incident and said that investigations have been initiated to establish the root cause of the incident.
Mbogo said the diseased didn't leave a suicide note and that the deceased had been living alone since his wife died a few years ago.
The police chief added;
“He has a family but his wife had passed on."