Sunday turned gloomy for Murimanjoo village residents in Meru after reports of four people who perished in a house inferno.
The four, a couple and their two children, were burnt beyond recognition in the tragedy.
They were identified as Eric Guantai, 41, his wife Caroline Gakii, 36, and their two boys Masters Tony Mwenda and Christian Karani.
A witness said they heard screams minutes before 4:00 am which forced them to rush to the compound.
“We heard screams coming from this homestead and rushed here.
"The fire was furious due to the wind blowing in the night hence we had a difficult time rescuing them,” George Mutwori said.
Mutwori added that the couple must have perished as they tried to rescue their children.
“From where the bodies were, it appeared the two woke up in the middle of flames but went for their children instead of dashing out. It was a painful death,” he added.
Nothing was salvaged from the house.
“The fire was strong and the dry timber of the house made the fire spread like lightning,” Joshua Kimathi said.
Police took the bodies to Consolata Mission Hospital mortuary.