Kirinyaga Woman Killed As Fire Engulfs Her House While Sleeping With 2 Children: "It Was Too Fierce"

• Rose Njiru, 25, tragically died in a house fire in Kiamutugu, Gichugu, despite her husband's efforts to rescue her alongside the two children
• The fire broke out in the early hours of September 12, and although Rose was near the door, thick smoke and intense flames prevented her escape
• Neighbours managed to save some property, but most of the house, including valuables worth millions, was destroyed in the blaze
• The incident has sparked calls for better firefighting services in Gichugu, as the nearest fire station is over 40 kilometres away in Kerugoya

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kirinyaga - Residents of the Kiamutugu trading centre in Gichugu are reeling in shock following the tragic death of a 25-year-old lady.

The woman tragically lost her life after a fire engulfed her home while she was asleep with two children.

Residents, including Stephen Kaunda and Eliud Muriithi, said the fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday, September 12.

Neighbours were alerted by the crackling sound of flames and the screams for help from the victim, Rose Njiru, who was trapped inside.

"We responded immediately and alerted the area chief and Kiamutugu police officers, who arrived promptly," Muriithi recounted as reported by Citizen Digital.

Despite the heroic efforts of her husband, Boniface Njiru, who managed to rescue their 7-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old relative visiting at the time, Rose was unable to escape the fire.

"She was burned beyond recognition. In the house were two children— a 15-year-old girl, a relative who was visiting, and their own 7-year-old daughter," Kaunda revealed.

What killed Rose as she escaped the fire

According to residents at the scene, Rose might have been saved if not for the thick smoke in the house.

Kaunda suggested that the mother of one made an attempt to escape from the rapidly spreading fire, but she was overwhelmed.

"She was close to the door but couldn’t make it out because the fire was too fierce," Kaunda added.

Her husband said property worth millions of shillings was destroyed, though residents were able to save his vehicle and livestock.

The incident has sparked calls for improved firefighting services in Gichugu, with the closest station in Kerugoya, located over 40 kilometres away.

Rose’s remains were taken to the Kerugoya mortuary as authorities in Gichugu began a probe into the cause of the fire.

Mother, 2 minors perish in house fire

Separately, a Ugandan woman and her children were locked in the house preparing supper on Thursday night, September 5, when tragedy hit.

A preliminary probe suggested the trio had stored a jerrycan containing petrol in their house in Tororo, Eastern Uganda.

They were all burnt beyond recognition; Ugandan police ferried the bodies to the morgue as they embarked on thorough investigations.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke