Minor Dies in Nairobi Home After Suspected Carbon Monoxide Exposure

A two-year-old girl was found dead after she had suffocated from carbon monoxide emanating from a burning jiko in a house in Buruburu’s Biafra estate, Nairobi.

Her mother, aged 28 was rushed to hospital in serious condition following the incident, police said.

The body was found Thursday morning by a friend who was visiting, police said.

The woman is said to have gone to sleep after leaving a burning jiko in her house.

She locked the house so that it could be warmer following rains that were experienced. She however did not know that was a death trap.

The visiting friend had to break into the house only to find the woman and girl lying unresponsive.

Police visited the scene and said there was a burning jiko in the house which is believed to have caused the death.

Carbon monoxide is regarded a silent killer.

A burning jiko emits carbon monoxide, which is deadly. Carbon monoxide poisoning is more likely to occur when people are asleep.

Carbon monoxide poisoning, always referred to as ‘the silent killer’ , happens when the toxic odourless gases emitted from burning wood or charcoal mix with blood and affect oxygen circulation in the body.

When one breathes in carbon monoxide, it enters the blood, mixes with the red blood cells’ haemoglobin to form poisonous carboxyhemoglobin that prevents blood from transporting oxygen.

Officials warn against the use of jiko in poorly ventilated places.

And a woman was found murdered in a domestic feud in Ayego, Uriri, Migori County.

The body of Emily Atieno, 43 was found in her compound after the murder on April 29.

The woman had had a quarrel with her husband in the house.

Police who visited the scene said the body had a deep cut in the neck and lay in a pool of blood.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy and investigation. The assailant escaped the scene and efforts to arrest him were ongoing, police said.