Five relatives in Meru die in mysterious fire

Residents of Nchuare village in North Imenti, Meru County, at the scene where five relatives died in a house fire yesterday. [PHOTO: MARTIN MWENDA/STANDARD]

Five relatives died in a mysterious night fire in Meru yesterday morning.

The five, who included two brothers and their sister's three children, died when a fire burned down a semi-permanent house at Nchaure village in North Imenti.

Neighbours and relatives who live nearby said by the time they arrived at the scene at around 4.30am, the fire was too fierce to contain.

The house owner arrived about 30 minutes before the fire incident, neighbours said, adding that they heard him unlock a steel door.

Those killed in the fire were identified as Boniface Kimaita (27), his brother Jimarish Muriuki (20), their nephews Nickson Munene (13), Dennis Waithanje (7) and niece Winnie Wanjiku (2).

Mr Kimaita, the house's owner, worked for the Meru county assembly as support staff. Colleagues described him as one of the most diligent and loyal subordinates, one who always wore a smile.

Mr Muriuki was a Form Three student in a nearby day school while the nephews and niece had been visiting since Friday from Nairobi where they live with their mother.

Ntakira chief John Mwenda said he received information from neighbours that the house was on fire at 4.30am.

By the time fire fighters arrived at the scene about an hour after the fire started, it was too late.

"Although we are asking residents not to speculate on the cause of the fire, it is also difficult to fathom why the victims failed to escape by simply smashing some wooden planks on the wall," said Mr Ntakira.

Residents also pointed out to some fresh blood at the gate of the compound as a mystery that needed to be investigated.

The badly burnt bodies of the four male victims were in one corner of the house, while that of the youngest victim and the only female was found on a bed in another part of the house.

Imenti North Police Boss Sammy Kosgei said the cause of the fire was yet to be established, and urged the public to volunteer information.

A Kenya Red Cross Society team led by Mt Kenya Regional Manager Gitonga Mugambi counselled relatives of the victims at one of the nearby homes.

The bodies were taken to Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.