A police officer in Kuria West, Migori County, is counting losses after his property was reduced to ashes by a fire allegedly started by his girlfriend.

Police Constable Wycliffe Baraza is said to have left his girlfriend, identified as Mary Muthoni Mbugua, in his house within Masaba Police Line and went out.

Baraza had joined his colleague, Constable Amos Echukut, for an assignment some 5 kilometers away when the incident occurred.

While on duty at around 2:45 pm on April 2, Baraza received a phone call from his neighbour informing him that his house had been set on fire by his 32-year-old girlfriend.

“They [Baraza and Echukut] rushed back and found the in charge of the post plus other persons had put out the fire, however, everything except a mattress was salvaged,” a report filed at Kehancha Police Station reads in part.

Among the items the officer had lost in the fire were; a table, a 32-inch television set, a bed, a mattress, 13kg and 6kg gas cylinders, four plastic chairs, an Oppo mobile phone, and a carpet.

The fire also destroyed the officer’s Berret, smoke jacket, raincoat, two jungle trousers, two jungle shirts, a pair of blue uniforms, and assorted clothes valued at KSh100,000.

“The said woman is believed to have differed with the officer over suspected love triangle and took such action to discipline him,” the police report adds.

Police have launched a manhunt for the lady who fled immediately after setting the house on fire.

She hails from Njoro, Nakuru County.