Shock as Kasarani man, 29, sets himself ablaze
A man died after setting himself ablaze in Kasarani, Nairobi.
Denise Gakuru, 29, is reported to have set himself on fire. Police are investigating the incident.
His badly burnt body was discovered in his house on October 23, 2023.
According to the police, the victim who lived alone is said to have soaked a piece of cloth in paraffin as part of his plan to take his own life.
“He doused himself in more paraffin and then wrapped the cloth around his body before setting himself ablaze,” part of the report read.
Neighbours who heard the victim screaming for help rushed to his aid but found him severely burnt.
They tried to rush him to the hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The police later moved his body to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) mortuary pending an autopsy, but the motive for his actions remains unclear.
In August, a man died at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital Mombasa hospital days after he set himself on fire.
Robert Gituhu, 27, had 80 percent burns when he was rushed to the facility.
The man shocked many when he climbed one of the statues at the Mwembe Tayari roundabout carrying a flag, poured paraffin on himself, lit a matchbox, and set himself on fire.
He was immediately taken to Coast General for treatment, where he died.
The deceased was confirmed to be a graduate of the University of Eldoret, where he studied mechanical engineering and graduated in 2021.
“When the video went viral, one of his classmates came to identify the body and showed that it was indeed the same person as on the posters. We called the number and the family also confirmed that the boy was missing, they are currently in Mombasa,” said Haki Africa’s Rapid Response Officer Mathias Shipeta.
It was also established that this is not the first time the deceased has been reported missing.
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