Two children burned to death at night after mother went to drink alcohol
Oliver Musembi and Njange Maina
Two children aged five (5) and thirteen (13) years were burnt to death on Friday night when their house caught fire at Gachagi slum near Makongeni estate in Thika Town Kiambu county.
It is suspected that the fire that broke out around 11.00 pm was started by a candle that the kids left burning as they slept.
Neighbours said the single mother was a habitual drunkard and often left the children in the house alone in the night to go to entertainment joints.
Confirming the incident, Thika West Sub County police commander Beatrice Kiraguri said the mother was still at large and police were looking for her.
She added that when the police visited the scene, they found the brick house had been padlocked from outside. "We are at a loss whether the mother works at night," she added.
The charred bodies were taken to General Kago Funeral Home as police began investigations into the incident.
Ms Kiraguri cautioned parents against leaving young children unattended at night.
A resident said the mother was in the habit of leaving the children alone in the house at night and coming back the following day.
