Farewell for minors who died in fire

By WAINAINA NDUNG’U              

Kiambu, Kenya: Hundreds of mourners bade an emotional farewell to four children aged between three and eight who perished in a house fire at their Othaya home last week.

Boda Boda operator Ayub Kahara Warurii and his wife Rose Mugure Kahara fought back tears as the funeral progressed at their Kihugiru Village home near Othaya.

The body of Sharon Wairimu, eight, was buried alongside that of her sister Ivy Wairimu, aged six, and twin brothers Colins Lanson Kigo and Lenson Wachira in a funeral attended by former Nyeri MP Mary Wambui and two Members of the County Assembly Priscilla Nyokabi (Nyeri) and Mary Mbugua (Nakuru).

Ten-year-old Damaris Njeri, a Standard Three pupil from Gatugi Primary School, got a standing ovation after an eloquent tribute to her departed schoolmates.

“They perished not because they had any sins; for children are free from sin, but because God harvests both ripe and unripe fruits from his garden,” said Njeri.

“We should not grieve for them because to God, there is happiness in sorrow,” she added, urging the grieving parents to be strong in the wake of the tragedy that occurred when they left the children sleeping in the house and went for an afternoon church service on the Sunday of February 9, 2014.

Consumed property

Only the youngest of the couple’s children, aged five months, survived the fire as she was with the couple in church when the tragedy occurred.

Their MP, who has pledged to help rebuild and furnish the burnt house, urged the couple not to despair, saying they were still young enough to have more children.

During the burial, the mourners raised funds to help the family rebuild their life.

The fire, which started at around 3.30pm, consumed property of unknown value. Neighbours’ efforts to put it out and salvage household items yielded no fruits.