Emotional funeral for kin who died in strange fire in North Imenti

Two brothers who died in a mysterious fire on the dawn of June 5 were buried yesterday at an emotional funeral at Nchaure Village, North Imenti.

The other three relatives who died in the fire will be buried tomorrow at Kangema in Murang’a County.

The two brothers, Boniface Kimaita and Jimaris Muriuki, died together with their two nephews, Nickson Munene, 13, Dennis Waithanje, 7, and their two-year-old niece Winnie Wanjiku.

Kimaita, 27, worked at the Meru County Assembly whose Speaker Joseph Kaberia hailed him as a hard working employee who always wore a smile and was ready to do extra duties whenever called upon.

“He joined us as a gardener but he was always ready to do work outside his docket. His demise in a mysterious fire is a tragedy for the assembly. We want thorough investigations to be done,” said Mr Kaberia, in a speech read by his deputy.

Speedy probe

Kimaita is survived by a 10-month-old son.

The family’s spokesman, Kirima Mwito, called for a speedy investigation to establish the cause of the inferno that razed the three-bedroomed timber house.

Meru leaders, including Deputy Governor Raphael Muriungi, North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood, former Interior PS Mutea Iringo and Meru County Deputy Speaker Gideon Kimathi joined the grieving family in calling upon the police to expedite investigations.

Mr Kimathi said the County Assembly release all of Kimaita’s entitlements, including insurance compensation.

Meru County executives Martin Bikuri and Limuki Kaberia said the devolved government was ready to support the family and will be represented at a fundraiser slated for July 17.

Pastor Edwin Mugambi said death had robbed the area of hard-working youths and innocent children.

“As we bury them, we are also asking the investigative agencies to speed up investigations so that we know what actually happened on that fateful day,” said Mugambi.