This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
On Saturday night, a devastating fire swept through a residential room in Nyunzu market, Makueni County, claiming the lives of three people.
The victims, identified as Faith Mang'eli, 27, Angel Masava, 5, and Amelia Masava, 2, were trapped inside the house when it was set ablaze.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started in the single-roomed-house, which was occupied by five people, including the deceased's mother, Regina Mueni, 49, and her mother, Monica Matolo, 75.
Regina Mueni and Monica Matolo managed to escape with serious burns and were taken to the Makueni Referral Hospital for treatment.
Police in Makueni are investigating the incident, with detectives suspecting that the fire was started using petrol or a similar accelerant due to the rapid spread of fire in the entire house.
“It is suspected that the cause of the fire is petrol since the room had a strong petrol smell,” Makueni sub-county Police Commander Timothy Maina said.
The three bodies were moved to the Makueni Referral Hospital mortuary.
