Police in Makueni is investigating a suspected case of arson which left four family members dead after their house was set ablaze at wee hours of Saturday night.
The incident happened in a residential room at Nyunzu market situated a few kilometres from Wote market, along Makindu-Wote road.
The four victims have been identified by police as Regina Mueni, 49, her daughter Faith Mang’eli, 27, and two grandchildren Angel Masava, 5, and Amelia Masava, 2.
By the time of the incident, the single room was occupied by five people.
Three died on the spot while Mueni and her mother Monica Matolo,75, who suffered serious burns were rushed to Makueni referral hospital in critical condition.
Mueni succumbed to the injuries at around 11 pm while receiving treatment.
She operated a bar at the front face of the building by the roadside.
By the time of going to press, no arrest had been made since Sunday 4 am when police received a report about the incident.
Detectives believe that the fire was started using petrol or just a similar accelerant due to the rapid spread of the fire in the entire house and also strong petrol smell.
“It’s suspected that the cause of the fire is petrol brought about by unknown people as the room had a strong petrol smell,” Makueni sub-county police commander Timothy Maina said in a report.
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