Two children died in a mysterious house fire in the Murinduku area of Mwea East, Kirinyaga County, on Wednesday, 8 January.
The victims were four-year-old boy-and-girl twins who had reportedly been left under the care of their grandmother when the tragedy occurred.
According to reports, the mother had gone to find a school for the children when the fire engulfed her home, claiming their lives.
Despite the neighbours’ quick intervention to quell the fire, their efforts bore no fruit as the twins ultimately died in the fire.
Area Assistant Chief Patrick Njeru confirmed the incident, stating that the house had been consumed by the inferno and the children had been burnt beyond recognition.
"The house was burnt down to ashes and unfortunately the children were burnt beyond recognition," he said.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but investigations are underway.
In a similar gruesome fire incident in Maragua, Murang’a County, a 47-year-old woman is nursing burn injuries after being set on fire by her boyfriend.
Reports indicate that the boyfriend doused her with kerosene and then struck a match during a dispute about food.
According to relatives who rushed to her rescue, the two had a history of domestic violence.
“The husband came and poured kerosene on her, then set her on fire. We screamed for help, and people came to rescue her,” a family member present during the incident narrated.
She was eventually taken to Kenyatta National Hospital, where she is currently fighting for her life.
