In the Kabete constituency of Kiambu County, a devastating fire claimed the lives of Mrs. Peris Njeri Njoroge, a 40-year-old mother, and her three children on the night of Friday, December 30, 2023.
The victims included Susan Njeri, 22, a college student, along with her younger siblings, Mark Njuguna, 16, who was in secondary school, and Edward Mbugua, 10, expected to join fifth grade. Tragically, the family was asleep when the fire erupted.
According to the Nyathuna Ward Representative, MCA Eddy Kinyanjui, the victims were completely engulfed by the fire, which started around midnight. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, and despite the fire brigade’s efforts, the rural nature of the area posed challenges for containment.
“We found the mother and her three children burnt beyond recognition. We came with the fire brigade, but the residents had already put out the fire, although we faced challenges because the area is quite rural,” stated Mr. Kinyanjui.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with the cause of the fire yet to be established. Gas explosions further complicated the situation, making it difficult to ascertain the initial ignition source.
Kabete Police Commander, Anthony Mbogo, confirmed the initiation of an investigation to unravel the circumstances leading to this tragic event. Urgency has been emphasized by both relatives and residents, urging the police to expedite their inquiry into the fire’s origin.
Mr. JJ Kimani, a relative of the victims, expressed the family’s plea for a swift investigation, highlighting the challenges in identifying the charred bodies. The village elder of Nyathuna echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to discern whether the incident was intentional.
This heartbreaking incident adds to the growing concerns regarding the surge in fire incidents as the year 2023 concludes. The community awaits the results of the investigation, hoping for clarity on the cause of this devastating tragedy.
