By I.P. reporter.
MURANG’A, Kenya .
A somber mood has engulfed the residents of Gakoigo, Murang’a County, after a fire claimed the lives of four children in a tragic incident Thursday night.
According to first responders, the fire broke out while the children were asleep, consuming the entire house.
Witnesses say neighbors first noticed thick smoke billowing from the home and rushed to help.
Despite their frantic efforts to extinguish the flames, the blaze spread rapidly, leaving the children trapped inside.
After hours of battling the fire, neighbors finally managed to put it out. However, the children, two boys and two girls, three of whom were siblings were burnt beyond recognition.
Local police arrived at the scene and transported the charred bodies to the mortuary.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
This tragedy follows a similar incident in Moburo, Kericho County, where three children died on Dec. 7 after a fire engulfed their home.
The children, left alone in the house, were reportedly trapped after a charging phone exploded, igniting the timber-built structure.
Surge in Fire Incidents Across Kenya.
The deaths in Murang’a and Kericho add to a concerning rise in fire-related tragedies in Kenya.
According to the National Disaster Operations Center, 2024 has seen a spike in both residential and school fires.
In March, a fire at Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum in Nairobi displaced over 500 families.
In May, a dormitory fire at Mwihila Boys High School in Kakamega County left three students dead and dozens injured. Another blaze in October destroyed two dormitories at Moi Girls School, Nairobi, displacing 200 students.
This year alone, more than 60 lives have been lost to fire incidents, including children, and hundreds have been left homeless.
Investigations have pointed to electrical faults, faulty electronics, and poor safety measures as the primary causes of the infernos.
Authorities are urging Kenyans to adopt better safety practices and ensure emergency response systems are improved to mitigate future tragedies.
Ends.
