A 25-year-old woman, Patience Cherotich, has been charged with arson after allegedly setting fire to her ex-boyfriend’s house, causing damage worth Sh120,000.
The incident occurred in TRM Drive, Kasarani, Nairobi, on August 10, 2023, when Cherotich reportedly ignited the blaze after her ex-boyfriend, Mr. Benjamin Obeten, refused her advances.
Cherotich and Mr. Obeten had previously been in a romantic relationship but had since broken up. Cherotich requested to visit Mr. Obeten’s house, which he allowed.
However, upon her arrival, chaos ensued, and she allegedly threatened his life. Seeking help, Mr. Obeten involved the apartment’s security guards, resulting in Cherotich being ejected from the premises.
Despite this, Mr. Obeten eventually allowed Cherotich back into the house to spend the night.
She slept on a couch in the living room but reportedly began causing a disturbance by banging on his bedroom door at 5 a.m., demanding entry.
When Mr. Obeten opened the door to reason with her, Cherotich stormed into the bedroom.
After a few minutes, Mr. Obeten left her alone in the bedroom and returned to the sitting room. Shortly after, he discovered the house was on fire, and the flames had already consumed the bed and various items.
After extinguishing the fire with the help of neighbors, Mr. Obeten reported the incident to Kasarani Police station, leading to Cherotich’s arrest following an investigation.
Cherotich, a single mother of a seven-year-old child, pleaded for lenient bail and bond terms during her court appearance before Senior Principal Magistrate Agnes Mwangi at the Makadara Law Courts.
She was released on a bond of Sh200,000 with a surety of a similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Sh90,000.
The case is scheduled for mention on November 14, with the hearing set to commence on April 12 next year.
