Three children die as inferno razes house

Three children died after fire broke out in their house on Wednesday at Njambini in Yamumbi, Uasin Gishu county.

Kapseret sub county police commander Zephaniah Kamuren said the children aged between 1 and 8 were locked in house while their mother was away.

"Two of the minors were burned beyond recognition while one of them suffered severe burn wounds," Kamuren said.

The police boss the inferno razed the rented house which was constructed using mud and iron sheets.

The children were sleeping on a bed in the single room house when tragedy struck.

Kamuren said police have launched investigations to determine the cause of the fire that also destroyed property of unknown value.

"The siblings were asleep during the incident. Neighbors who tried to rescue the trio after hearing screams were overpowered by the huge fire. We are investigating the cause of the fire," he said.

The bodies were removed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) for preservation awaiting postmortem.

"Ensure your children's safety if you must leave them alone. Alternatively, ensure that minors are under an adult's care all the time," Kamuren said.

Onesmus Githinji, the minor's grandfather said that he had them and ensured that they were asleep before he left.

"The jiko which was in the house was off. I went home and after 30 minutes,I was told that the three children had been burned," said the distraught grandfather who blamed his daughter for alleged neglect of the children.

"I came here and found my eldest grandchild' s body outside while the two young ones were inside. I have had to be checking on the children because my daughter has been leaving them to work at night," he added.

Alice Wangeci, a neighbor said that they had tried to rescue the minors to no avail.

"Although the police from nearby Yamumbi Police Station came in time after we called them, there is nothing more that could be done as the minors had already lost their lives," said the neighbor.