An elderly woman outside what remains of the home of Mr Ouma Opondo in Upanda village, Siaya County. Ouma, his wife and seven children were killed in a suspected arson attack.
Had police in Sigomre and Ugunja sub-counties acted on an eviction order in a land dispute case, the attack that wiped out nine members of a family in Siaya County could have been averted, a relative has said.
Mr Leonard Opondo, the younger brother of Mr Ouma Opondo, who was burnt to death alongside his wife and seven children on Tuesday, blamed “delaying tactics” by the police in executing the court order for the tragedy.
Speaking at their home in Upanda village, Mr Opondo said that despite their frequent visits to the authorities, no action was taken.
“Upon winning the land dispute case in 2019 against the defendant, Christopher Okello, a court order to vacate was issued, but the Sigomre ward police boss failed to effect it. Three days before the 60-day grace period elapsed, Okello filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal,” explained Mr Opondo.
However, the court dismissed the petition and another court order was issued, he said. Again, the police failed to execute the order. Eventually, another eviction order was issued by the Ukwala magistrate court in July 2024.
Mr Opondo said that they served the suspect, area chief and officer commanding Sigomre Police Station with the notice.
The home of Ouma Opondo Adalla, who was burnt to death along with his wife and seven children in Upanda village, Sigomre, Ugunja sub-County.
He claimed that instead of the order being enforced by the police, the OCS allegedly kept the document in his office and gave excuse after excuse.
“I came to learn that the OCS had not delivered the eviction order to his bosses. When my brother and I inquired why the order had not reached the sub-county commander, he claimed that he had misplaced it and asked us to submit the order again,” Mr Opondo said.
'Snubbed twice'
Opondo said that even after submitting the orders the second time, the OCS did not act.
“He eventually directed my brother to take the order to the sub-county police commander himself, who again claimed that the letter had to be taken to Nairobi for further direction,” Mr Opondo said.
Neighbours, friends and relatives on April 23, 2025 at the homestead where nine family members were burnt to death in a suspected arson attack.
The matter reached Siaya County Police Commander Serah Koki, who visited the scene and held a baraza with the parties.
“The county police commander concluded the meeting by tasking the same OCS with the mandate of executing the order from court,” said Mr Opondo.
The back and forth game, he said, derailed them in their quest for justice. The family saw a ray of hope when an official from the office of the Inspector-General of Police came to the village and served the defendant and Sigomre OCS with the eviction letter.
The order from the IG’s office directed that the suspect be evicted from the disputed land latest on Thursday April 24. However, a day before the expiry of the order Opondo’s family was killed in a night fire that police are treating as an arson attack.
Mr Opondo said that his home caretaker, who was the first person at the scene of the tragedy, was woken up by a pungent smell of petrol and upon investigating, he discovered that there was an attempt to burn the house.
The home of the suspect behind the arson attack that left nine family members dead in Siaya County. Angry villagers stormed the compound and burned down three houses on April 23, 2025.
“We share a fence with my late brother. The arsonists tried to burn my house too, that is when the caretaker woke up and put out the fire before rushing towards my brother’s house, which was in flames,” he noted.
Threats reported
Prior to the fire tragedy, Mr Opondo claimed that Mr Okello had issued several threats to their lives, which they reported to the police, but no action was taken.
“He threatened us several times, that before he is evicted, he would do something that would shake the world,” said Mr Opondo. He added that they were now living in fear since police were yet to apprehend Mr Okello, who is the main suspect.
National Police Spokesperson Michael Muchiri on Wednesday evening said one suspect had been arrested.
“Early today (Wednesday) about 4am, in Sigomre location, nine family members are believed to have been locked in from outside their house before the residence was set on fire. One suspect, 48-year-old Roselyne Atieno Okello, is in custody assisting in the investigations,” said Mr Muchiri.
