This archive report was first published on 3 May 2021.
On May 3, 2021, a devastating fire broke out in a rental house in Florex area of Nakuru East, claiming the lives of a police officer's three children and her house help.
The officer, who was attached to Elementaita Police Post, had moved into the house just three days prior to the incident.
"One of our police officers has lost three children and her house girl in a house fire. The four were burnt beyond recognition," said Nakuru East sub-county Deputy Police Commander Phanton Analo.
According to Analo, there was no power supply in the house at the time of the incident, ruling out the possibility of an electrical fault.
"The bodies have been taken to Nakuru County mortuary pending investigations into the cause of the fire. The house had been connected to electricity but had no power supply when the fire broke out," Analo added.
Resident Joseph Mwangi, who witnessed the incident, said that the family had moved into the house at the end of April.
"The victims are my neighbours and moved in three days ago. When the fire broke out, the police officer was on duty," Mwangi said.
He also stated that the residents had challenges accessing the compound due to its high perimeter wall, which made it difficult to notice the fire early enough.
The residents battled the fire for nearly an hour before the county fire brigade arrived, but the house had already caved in.
