Six family members have perished in a fire incident that razed down a house in Kipkelion West, Kericho county on Sunday night.
The victims –three women and three girls – died when the fire broke out at Tumoek village, Kapkwen location in Kunyak civic ward.
“A mother and her three children perished along with her sister in the inferno that also reduced household goods to ashes,” Ms Alice Yegon, the area assistant chief told journalists at the scene of the fire on Monday morning.
All the victims were burned beyond recognition in the timber walled and iron roof sheet house that has sent shockwaves in the area.
“Poor communication networks and the poor state of roads made it difficult for coordination of rescue efforts when the fire broke out at night,” Ms Yegon said.
Police arrived at the scene on Monday morning and placed the victims in body bags. Police say the bodies have since been taken to St Vincent’s Hospital mortuary.
Initial reports indicate that the fire could have been caused by a faulty solar battery that exploded, causing a fire outbreak that spread fast when it came in contact with petrol that was in a container inside the house.
The petrol is said to be used to fuel a power saw, according to family members and villagers who jammed the homestead on Monday.
Hundreds of residents rushed to the homestead on Monday morning when the report of the tragedy spread in the area with grief engulfing the remote village in Kipkelion East constituency.
“It is a sad day for the family and residents of Kipkelion West constituency that we have lost six family members in a fire incident. I wish to condole with the families of the victims who have perished in the inferno” Mr Hillary Koskei, the Kipkelion West Member of Parliament said.
