A 98-year-old woman died after a fire broke out in her house late Thursday night in Bungoma County.
The incident occurred at Bishop Uwezo family home in Kimaeti area within Kimaeti Sub-County.
Police officers who rushed to the scene established that the fire had extensively destroyed household items inside one room of a three-bedroom permanent house that had no electricity connection.
The body of Damaris Makuku Okeno, a 98-year-old woman, was found inside the burnt room with severe burn injuries.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire may have started from a candle allegedly lit by the deceased’s daughter, who had taken food to her mother earlier in the night.
Police said that due to lack of electricity in the house, the daughter reportedly placed a lit candle on a non-functional television set that had been positioned on a wardrobe drawer to provide lighting.
The candle is believed to have fallen onto clothes stored on the wardrobe, igniting a fire that spread rapidly through the room and filled the house with thick smoke.
Neighbours responded after an alarm was raised but were unable to rescue the elderly woman, who had already succumbed to the flames by the time the fire was contained.
The scene was processed and documented by detectives, with photographs taken before the body was moved to Kocholia Sub-County Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem examination.
Police said investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Police in Nyandarua County are investigating a fire incident that claimed the life of a 27-year-old man in Olkalou area.
According to police, the fire broke out at around 4am at the home of Leonard Wanjohi Maina,
The incident was reported by a relative who said she was awakened by barking dogs before stepping outside and noticing huge flames coming from her brother’s house.
She raised an alarm that attracted neighbours and members of the public, but efforts to contain the blaze were unsuccessful as the fire had already engulfed the entire house.
Police officers visited the scene and established that the deceased’s body had been burnt beyond recognition.
Authorities said the cause of the fire is yet to be established.
Members of the public later managed to extinguish the fire, although extensive damage had already been caused.
The scene was processed and documented before the body was moved to J.M. Kariuki Hospital mortuary for preservation and further examination.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
