One-year-old twins burnt to death

Siaya, Kenya: One-year-old twins were burnt to death in their house in Ajigo sub-location, Siaya County on Monday evening.

The infants, Jane Anyango and June Anyango had been left asleep in their house in Ngula village, while their mother Judith Achieng went to the nearby market.

Bondo sub-county Deputy County Commissioner, Mr. Samson Diero Akatch, confirmed the incident to The Standard saying that the infants were left under the care of a 5-year-old boy who is suspected to have lit a tin lamp.

"The fire was noticed by a passerby who had come to fetch water from river Yala when he raised the alarm before he unsuccessfully tried to break into the house to rescue the babies," said Akatch.

Efforts by the villagers to rescue the infants were futile, as the fire has engulfed the grass-thatched house.

The incident comes barely a month after a 2-year-old baby boy died after he was burnt beyond recognition following a fire incident that razed down their grass thatched house at Kaudha village in Gem sub-county.