A man at Nyalenda estate in Kisumu allegedly killed himself and his two children by setting their house on fire following a disagreement with his wife.
The Saturday morning incident left the three bodies burnt beyond recognition even as neighbours made frantic efforts to curb the raging fire from spreading to other houses.
Jeremiah Mwanje, 40, who is a security guard in one of the companies in the town is said to have killed himself, his 10 year old son and eight year old daughter after a domestic row with his wife who left the house hours before the incident.
Josephine Vienda, one of the neighbours, said she heard noise from outside and on her way out she found people trying to put off a huge fire that was burning down the house.
She said the neighbors’ efforts to contain the fire proved futile and the late arrival by the Municipal Council of Kisumu made things no better as the damage had already been done.
“Fire fighters from the council were turned away by angry residents because they showed up at 6.00 AM, two hours after the damage had been done,” she said.
Charles Otieno, another resident, said their attempts to save the family and their properties were not fruitful as the fire was fierce.
“He had left the front door open but locked himself and the children in the bedroom before setting the house on fire,” said Otieno.
He added, “We could not enter the house because the fire was huge and our effort to use water to contain it could not help the situation.”
The man’s body is reported to have been found at the entrance of the bedroom while the remains of his two children were on the bed.
The security guard’s colleague who declined to be named said the deceased had left his security jacket at his place of work with some money in it and a note of who the money should be given to.
The victims’ remains were taken to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
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