Tension is quietly simmering in Mutomo Town after a government-branded vehicle under the Kitui South Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was mysteriously set ablaze in the early hours of Tuesday morning — and the public is now demanding answers, particularly on why the driver remains free despite glaring inconsistencies in his conduct.
According to Mutomo OCPD Patrick Kafulo, the incident occurred at around 2AM, when the town was dead silent and deserted, as is typical at that hour. The government vehicle, clearly marked with CDF branding, was found on fire along a local street, far from any official premises. No engine sounds. No movement. Just flames in the darkness — and no driver in sight.
Police say the driver only surfaced more than an hour after the fire was reported by locals, a delay that has raised serious suspicions among residents and investigators alike. OCPD Kafulo confirmed that mechanical failure had been ruled out, stating that the vehicle was not operational at the time of the incident, and therefore the fire is being treated as an arson attack.
That, however, is just the beginning of the puzzle.
Locals and leaders are questioning why a government vehicle would be left on a public street at night, when official policy demands that such vehicles be parked at designated compounds, police stations, or their respective offices when not in use. The Kitui South CDF offices, where the vehicle is officially assigned, are located less than 10 kilometers from where it was found burning — a fact that deepens the mystery around why it was left exposed in Mutomo town, especially during a time when there is zero activity.
More troubling for many is the fact that, despite being the last person in custody of the vehicle and returning suspiciously late, the driver has not been arrested or even named a person of interest. He continues to walk free, sparking public outrage.
“This is a government vehicle. It was burned. The driver was missing during the fire. And yet, nothing? No arrest? No questioning? It’s unbelievable,” said one frustrated resident who spoke to Channel 15 News.
Another resident dismissed the possibility that the fire was connected to wider political unrest. “Kitui South has been peaceful. We didn’t participate in the June 25 protests. We remained calm during Saba Saba. This has nothing to do with public anger — it feels like internal sabotage or petty politics gone too far.”
Indeed, Kitui County has been praised for its remarkable restraint during recent turbulent political moments. While counties across Kenya erupted into chaos during the June 25 Memorial and later Saba Saba protests, Kitui remained a rare oasis of calm. No police confrontations, no looting, no reports of violence.
That peaceful reputation was recently acknowledged by Kitui County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto, who lauded the region’s discipline during a dinner event hosted by the County Assembly following Governor Julius Malombe’s State of the County Address earlier this month.
“While the rest of the country experienced upheaval, Kitui stood firm and peaceful. Our people chose law and order over chaos,” Rutto said.
But that peace is now clouded by suspicion. Was this vehicle fire a case of gross negligence? Was it staged for political messaging? Was the vehicle being misused before the incident?
As detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Mutomo dive deeper into the case, locals are urging transparency, accountability, and justice. The pressure is building — not just to find out who torched the vehicle, but also to explain why the man in charge of it hasn’t even been questioned.
This isn’t just about a car. It’s about trust in systems meant to protect public property — and the growing fear that someone, somewhere, is being shielded from the law.
