A family of three has perished after a man stabbed his wife and child to death and set himself ablaze, inside their rented house.

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Neighbours said that they heard the woman begging her husband not to stab her, before they saw flames rising from the house.

The incident, which happened in Wote town has been termed as horrific.

Makueni OCPD Benjamin Osongo said that investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of death of the three.

"Preliminary reports show that a man, a woman and child have died in the house," Mr Osongo said as reported by the Nation.

Rescuers tried to save the family but were kept at bay by the raging flames. They accessed the house through the roof after it had subsided because it was locked from inside.

The bodies were taken to Makueni Referral Hospital mortuary.