Residents of a village in Limuru constituency in Kiambu county spent Monday night trying to put out an inferno that engulfed a house, killing three children.
Their screams were heard from far at 7:30pm, as they struggled to contain the raging fires.
However, they did not salvage anything, as two of the three children who had been left inside the house went to hide themselves under the bed.
“When the fire was put out and people started entering, the remains of the two children were found under the bed. We suspect that the two had gone there to hide” Salome Wanja, a resident, said.
It was reported that their 32-year-old mother Lucy Wambui had gone to speak to a neighbour, leaving food cooking on a jiko.
However, while she was there, she was called by a neighbour asking why her three-roomed rental house was on fire.
“When she came to the house, she started screaming. It was too late that she could not enter because of the flames,” Wanja said.
Confirming the incident yesterday Tuesday, Limuru deputy county commissioner Charles Mukele said two boys aged five and two years perished as well an infant aged 10 months.
He said parents should not leave children who are below the age of 15 years alone at night.
Mukele said that the police have launched investigations to establish the real cause of the inferno.
Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi described the incident as sad, asking parents to take extra care of their children at all times.
He said the government should come up with a strategy of enlightening the society on the need to take care of children.
“We need to have strategies of educating people on incidences such as accidents, burns and other issues. We need to safeguard our society today and years to come,” the senator said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
