A tragic house fire in Poiwek village, Kericho County, has claimed the lives of a 42-year-old education officer and her eight-year-old daughter, as police launched investigations into a spate of deadly blazes reported in the area.
Jackline Cheruiyot, who served as an education officer in Chemosot Ward, Bureti Sub-county, died alongside her daughter after their home was engulfed by fire on Sunday night. The incident has left the local community in shock, with residents describing her as a dedicated public servant and a well-known figure in the area.
Family members said Cheruiyot was a mother of three, adding that her two other children managed to escape the inferno and are now in urgent need of support following the loss of their mother and sibling.
According to her brother, Patrick Kiprotich, neighbours rushed to the scene after hearing screams coming from the house and attempted to rescue the trapped victims.
“We managed to open the door to rescue her,” said Collins Kipyegon, one of the neighbours who joined the rescue effort. “However, an explosion of the gas cylinder forced rescuers to flee for their own safety.”
The fire reduced the house to ashes before emergency services could contain it, leaving little hope of saving those trapped inside.
In a separate incident in Ngecherok village, another family was left counting heavy losses after a fire razed a seven-bedroom house and destroyed two vehicles. The family of Milliot Kerich said the blaze caused losses estimated at about Sh5 million, wiping out their home and most of their possessions.
Nixon Kipngeno, a member of the affected family, said the fire spread rapidly, consuming the house, vehicles, and water tanks before it could be brought under control.
Kerich said the fire also destroyed school books and learning materials belonging to her children, compounding the family’s hardship as they try to recover from the disaster.
Residents of Poiwek and neighbouring villages said the twin fires have heightened fears over what they described as a worrying increase in fire incidents this month, and they called on authorities to intervene to improve safety and emergency response.
Kericho County Police Commander James Ngetich confirmed that detectives have opened investigations into both incidents to establish their causes.
He urged residents to ensure that electrical wiring and gas appliances are properly installed and maintained to reduce the risk of similar tragedies, noting that preventable domestic fires remain a leading cause of injury, death, and property loss in the region.
