Six die after family house burns in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County

Police officers outside a house that burnt, killing six family members in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County. Only one girl survived and was taken to hospital. PHOTO | GERALD BWISA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The man also perished in the fire that killed his wife and four children.
  • Neighbours said the couple had earlier fought over money which the wife received from a self-help group.
  • Chief Mildred Chesoni, the husband was earlier seen confronting his wife at the market.

Six members of a family were burnt to death on Monday night at Tol Village in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County after an aggrieved husband allegedly set ablaze their house.

The man also perished in the fire that killed his wife and four children.

One young girl survived the fire and was rushed to hospital after raising the alarm which attracted their neighbours at around midnight.

Neighbours said the couple had earlier fought over money which the wife received from a self-help group a day before.

Mr Jasper Nandasaba said the couple had been fighting for the last three months but efforts by friends and relatives to reconcile them bore no fruit.

"The wife has been complaining about her husband's abuse but he would say that everything was fine. So it was difficult to know actually what was really happening," he said.

SMOKE

He said he heard a child calling for help from the house and rushed to check what was happening only to see smoke billowing from inside.

He said the girl was struggling to breathe but had managed to call for help as she popped out of the window.

"She was choking and trying to breathe so I pulled her out but on checking further I saw a woman lying on the floor. I immediately called for help and we managed to break the door which had been locked from inside," he added.

They discovered that four children, the husband and wife had already died.

According to the area Chief Mildred Chesoni, the husband was earlier seen confronting his wife at the market asking her to give him the money she had received from her chama but she refused.

"The members of the public managed to calm them and they went home but I received the bad news that the family had died," she said.

Confirming the incident, Trans Nzoia West OCPD Wilfred Mogere said that investigations have been launched into the incident.

The bodies were taken to Kitale Referral Hospital mortuary.