Three children die in Nyeri inferno

Shocked villagers of Mathari in Nyeri county mill around the scene where three baby girls aged 5-2and one years perished after their timbered house caught fire on March 15 2016. PHOTO:KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD

Nyeri, Kenya: Three children died in a house fire at Mathari village in Nyeri.

The children were in their grandmother's semi-permanent house when the house caught fire on Tuesday at around 5pm.

The grandmother had reportedly locked the house from outside, making efforts to save the children futile.

Area residents blamed Nyeri fire brigade for delayed response.

"The fire was overwhelming and if the fire extinguishers arrived on time, we could have saved the lives of the children," said Richard Maina.

Nyeri Central OCPD Charles Rotich said the cause of fire had not been established.