September 18, 2025 – A shocking domestic tragedy has unfolded in Daraja Mbili, Kisii County, where Fred Mokaya died from severe injuries just days after allegedly setting his wife, Esther Gati, ablaze and attempting to cover it up as a gas explosion.
Despite their picture-perfect social media presence, the couple’s marriage was reportedly riddled with conflict behind closed doors. Esther, a respected boutique owner, tragically lost her life in the horrific attack.
Viral footage shows Mokaya fleeing the burning home, his upper body severely burnt. However, investigators later ruled out any gas explosion as the cylinder remained intact, confirming the fire was deliberately set.
Mokaya succumbed to his injuries during treatment, leaving behind a community grappling with the dark realities behind the facade of online perfection.
One of the couple’s employees poignantly reflected on the tragedy, questioning the true meaning of love and the hidden pain in toxic relationships:
“Sometimes I ask myself what is love. What do people look in love? Where do we fail as lovers? Where does the love disappear to when the darkness is deep? Rest in power bosses.”
This heartbreaking case has reignited conversations about the dangers of masking domestic abuse behind glamorous social media lives.
