Shock and grief have engulfed Kapnandet village in Belgut Constituency after three members of one family were burnt beyond recognition when their house caught fire under unclear circumstances late Friday night.
The tragic incident occurred in Kugerwet village, Kericho County, as the victims slept in their bedrooms inside a four-bedroomed bungalow, according to villagers who spoke to journalists at the scene.
Those who perished were identified as an 80-year-old woman, her 52-year-old daughter, and their 19-year-old house help, all of whom were trapped inside the house as the fire spread rapidly.
Residents said the family was jolted awake by a loud blast believed to have come from a cooking gas cylinder in the kitchen, moments before flames engulfed the house.
“When they rushed out to check what had happened, they realised the house was already on fire and spreading very fast,” said a neighbour who was among the first responders.
An alarm was raised immediately, drawing villagers and passers-by who rushed to the compound in an attempt to rescue the occupants and put out the inferno.
Despite their efforts, the raging fire proved too intense, overwhelming the rescuers as flames quickly consumed the entire house, leaving no chance of saving the trapped victims.
By the time the fire was brought under control, the three had already been burnt beyond recognition, their remains later recovered from the charred debris.
Kericho County Police Commander James Ngetich confirmed the incident, saying investigations had been launched to establish the exact cause of the deadly fire.
“We are treating the incident as mysterious for now. Our officers are conducting investigations to determine what caused the fire,” Ngetich said.
The bodies were taken to a local mortuary as relatives, neighbours and local leaders mourned the victims, calling for enhanced fire safety awareness within rural homes.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers posed by domestic gas and the lack of firefighting equipment in many villages across the county.
