Night prayers leave Homa Bay family in grief after loosing two minors in house fire

Members of the public mill around the scene where two minors died following a night fire at their house. [James Omoro, Standard]

A family in Gwassi West location in Homa Bay is grieving after losing two children following a fire incident that razed down their home.

Saviour Omondi, 3, and his one-and-a-half-year-old brother Reagan Otieno were burnt to death in the incident that left the village stunned.

Their father Tabu Ogola and his family were yet to come to terms with the devastating loss that occurred at around 3am Saturday.

Area Chief Tobias Opiyo said the parents had left the minors alone in the house to attend a prayer session at his brother's home.

According to Opiyo, the parents arrived home when the fire had escalated to a level that it could not be put off.

The Chief said the parents reported to him that they left home for the prayer service on Saturday at 1 am before they were informed of the fire about two hours later.

The bereaved father got a phone call from his first wife who was sleeping in another house.

“The parents reported that they left home at 1 am. At about 3 am, Ogola received a distress phone call from his first wife that there was danger at home. The house had caught fire,” Opiyo said.

Suba Sub-County Police Commander Caxton Ndunda while confirming the incident urged parents to avoid leaving children alone in the house.

“These parents locked the children in the house with a padlock and I believe the children would have escaped if they were able to open the door. Parents should not leave children home alone at night,” Ndunda said.

The bodies were moved to St Camillus Hospital Mortuary.