NAIROBI, Kenya — The search for a man believed to be behind one of the most horrifying arson attacks in Siaya County ended not with a chase, but with a quiet arrest over supper in Nairobi’s Kibra neighborhood.
Christopher Okello Owino, 56, was nabbed inside his Kianda home on Wednesday evening, just days after a fire in Upanda village, Ugunja Sub-County, claimed the lives of nine family members.
His children were reportedly by his side as he tucked into his evening meal—unaware it would be his last as a free man for now.
Authorities say Owino had been hiding out in Kibra after word got out that detectives were closing in on him.
His capture followed a community tip-off, and now investigators are piecing together a story filled with grief, betrayal, and a chilling escape plan.
How the Investigation Unfolded
Detectives say suspicions first arose when Owino told locals he had traveled to Siaya on the same night the fire broke out. The tragic incident, which wiped out an entire household, left the village in shock and prompted an urgent manhunt.
It didn’t take long before residents in Kibra who knew Owino tipped off the authorities. In coordination with local leaders, police swiftly moved in on his residence and arrested him without resistance.
Kibra Police confirmed the arrest, noting that coordination with officers in Ugunja was already underway to streamline the case and prepare for potential charges.
Earlier in the day, Owino’s wife had also been detained in Siaya after investigators found an oil can at the crime scene—a suspected accelerant. Owino, when questioned, admitted he was aware of her arrest and acknowledged police were closing in on him.
Forensics, Phones, and an Alleged Plot
Authorities are now analyzing Owino’s mobile phones for forensic evidence, searching for call logs, texts, or geolocation data that might reveal the full extent of the operation.
Sources close to the probe suggest Owino didn’t act alone—he allegedly assembled a small crew, traveled to Siaya in the early hours, and executed the crime before quietly heading back to Nairobi.
This digital trail could be the key to uncovering who helped him torch the home—and why.
A Strange Twist: Prayers After Flames
In a bizarre turn of events, just hours after his rural home in Siaya was torched by angry villagers in apparent retaliation, Owino hosted a prayer session at his Kibra residence.
Church members who had no clue about the arrest warrants reportedly gathered for evening devotion, unaware their host was at the center of a national tragedy.
Meanwhile, police say at least nine lives have been lost, including children, and dozens of relatives are now in mourning, calling for justice.
This case has drawn national attention—not just for its brutality, but for the eerie calm of the suspect’s post-crime routine.
