Shock as girl burnt to death in house

Residents of Gesieka village on Sunday night woke up to the shocking news that an eight-year-old girl had been burnt beyond recognition in a house.

Mercy Nyaata's family is now grieving their daughter's death while the suspected killers are still at large.

Other six family members escaped death narrowly. Beatrice Nyaata, a grandmother of the deceased, suffered burns as she escaped through a window thinking that her grandchild had found an escape route.

"I slept late and was woken up by one of my grandchildren's loud cry about fire that had already consumed a section of the house. I tried to call for help but no one responded. Both of us managed to escape through the window," she said.

She told The Standard how heavy smoke and fire deterred her from accessing the room where the girl was sleeping.

Area Chief Wilfred Ngote said the New Year incident is suspected to be linked to a longstanding land dispute, with a case pending in court.

"Killings of this nature are alarming. We are organising for a baraza with the Provincial Administration, the county and religious leaders to sensitise locals against such," he said.