Grief as man, wife and son perish in house inferno

By Philip Muasya

Kitui, Kenya: A trader at Tii shopping centre in Kyuso District, Kitui County died alongside his wife and a four year old child when their rented house caught fire consuming all the three as neighbours frantically tried to rescue them.

Muusya Matei, 35, who operated a small scale shop, his wife Mawia, 28, and their son perished in the house fire on Sunday night whose cause is yet to be established. Matei and his family used a section of their rented shop as a bedroom.

According to neighbours, the fire started at 9pm producing intense flames and thick choking smoke that kept them at bay. A neighbouring trader identified only as Grace recounted a huge ball of fire and desperate screams as the fire gutted the shop.

“We rushed to help but the fire was so intense forcing us to retreat. Their screams died down minutes later,” said a teary Grace.

Itiva Nzou location Chief Daniel Muthengi in whose jurisdiction Tii shopping center lies said that inquiries had revealed the trader kept a jerrican of petro in the shop for own use. It was not clear what triggered the fire though.

“We have learnt that he had a petrol powered generator for irrigation farming and he kept some of the fuel in the shop. It is a very sad incident but police are piercing together all the details,” said Muthengi.

When The Standard visited the scene, the unrecognisable charred remains of the bodies were still trapped inside as mournful neighbours conversed in low tones. Others comforted the trader’s father Matei Mutisya who wore a forlorn look.

The roof of the house caved in with charred pieces of timber and iron sheets hanging loosely.

The chief said police were waiting for a pathologist to identify the bodies before they could be released to their family for burial.