Painful loss: ODM mourns Mombasa man who set himself on fire

The ODM party has sent condolences to the family of an engineer who set himself on fire in Mombasa on Thursday.

In a video that went viral, the young man who has since been identified as Robert Gituhu, 28, blamed his drastic action on the cost of living and 'stolen' poll results.

"If maize flour prices are not reduced, I better die," he was heard saying in the video.

"Raila's win was stolen," he is then repeatedly heard saying.

Gituhu died at the Coast General Hospital where he was taken for treatment hours after setting himself ablaze at the Jomo Kenyatta Roundabout in the Mwembe Tayari area.

In a statement on Saturday, the ODM party termed his death a painful loss.

"The pain of losing a loved one as a result of empty promises by those in power. Gituhu had hopes in life, a vision and dreams, the only thing he needed was an enabling environment by the government to fulfil them," the party said in a statement.

"Sad he had to take his own life. To family and friends, poleni sana." 

Gituhu doused his body with paraffin before climbing to the top of a statue erected in the middle of the roundabout.

While holding the Kenya flag in his left hand, he started shouting and threatening to burn himself before lighting the fire despite pleas from stunned curious onlookers.

Doctors at the hospital said he had over 80 per cent burns.