WATCH: Kenyan man arrested for setting pregnant wife on fire

Police in Kenya have detained a man from Kikopey, in Nakuru county, after he set his pregnant wife on fire.  22-year-old Njoki Ndung'u was rescued from her burning house by neighbours who then rushed her to the St Mary’s mission hospital, where she is suffering from burn wounds, NTV reported.

"He (the husband) started by burning mattresses [outside the house] and when neighbours asked [why he was doing that], he said he was burning bedbugs," narrated one of the neighbours, adding that the two had had constant fights in the two years that they had lived together.

Ndung'u, who spoke from her hospital bed, said her husband lit fire in one of the rooms and she caught fire as she tried to escape.

"He had lit a fire in the living room, but when I tried to get out, I caught fire. The door locked itself and I fell down," said a tearful Njoki.

Last week, a video posted on social media caused a stir after it showed another  Kenyan man dragging his pregnant wife into a house while beating her senseless and leaving her for dead.


30-year-old John Wachira was allegedly incensed by his wife's "nagging over a trivial matter", The Star reported. Gender-based violence is prevalent in the country, with a recent survey indicating that 42% of Kenyan women aged between 15 and 42 support beating by their husbands.

Some of the justifications given for beating include denying husband sex, burning food, neglecting children and arguing with husband.