Tragic fire in Kirinyaga kills two children, investigation underway

KNA
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KNA
3 Min Read

Police in Kagumo, Kirinyaga County, are investigating a fire that killed two children in a residential plot near Kagumo Trading Centre in Kirinyaga Central Constituency on Monday night.

The incident occurred around 8 pm, when two children, aged 4 months and 4 years, were burnt beyond recognition.

According to residents and police, the mother of the two children was at the market buying food when the fire broke out.

Jane Wanjiku, a resident, recounted the tragic events, stating that the fire spread so quickly it was impossible to rescue the children from the house where the fire started.

John Mwangi, another resident, mentioned that the neighbouring community did their best to extinguish the fire before the County Government of Kirinyaga’s team arrived.

“We called for help immediately, and within no time, assistance from immediate neighbours came before firefighters. We are thankful for their prompt response,” he added.

The fire has disrupted the lives of many, including school-going children, who are now unable to attend classes due to the loss of their homes and school supplies.

Irene Karimi, the owner of the houses, described the chaotic scenes and pleaded for assistance for the affected families.

“I was in my house when I heard screams. I got out only to find the houses burning. Twenty houses were burnt, and the children of one mother died,” Karimi said.

On Tuesday afternoon, the victims received aid from the County Government of Kirinyaga and Kirinyaga Central MP to help rebuild their accommodation.

The leaders distributed food and non-food items including iron sheets, mattresses, blankets, and foodstuffs.

The County Executive Member for Finance, Jacqueline Njogu, urged residents to seek services from the planning department when constructing houses.

She noted that firefighters arrived on time but faced challenges accessing the site, which delayed efforts to contain the fire.

“We have a planning department in our county, and we encourage you to visit them before building your properties. They will assist in ensuring there will be easy access in case of incidents like this,” Njogu said.

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