Househelp and child burnt to death

Four people have been killed in two separate incidents in Nairobi. A househelp and a child were burnt to death in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate.

The two were locked in a house that caught fire in the estate’s Section 3. Initial investigations show the 4pm fire was caused by a stove that exploded, according to police.

It was too late

Neighbours had to break in to try and save the two but it was too late. Separately, security officers were sent to Ruai, on the city’s outskirts, following the killing of two people on Wednesday.

Residents clashed with a group of people from Mathare and Embakasi over a piece of land that had been earmarked for squatters. The residents were resisting the subdivision of the land to new people, saying they owned it.

On Thursday, Kayole police division commander Moses Lubisia said calm had been restored. “Two people were hacked to death on Wednesday. We moved in and restored calm but officers have remained there to avert fresh fights,” he said.

Meanwhile, Internal Security minister George Saitoti has assured Kenyans of their security before and after the referendum.

The minister, who was reacting to recent reports of increased seizures of illegal arms by police, said the fact that they are arresting the culprits proved they were alert.

Prof Saitoti was speaking on the sidelines of a ‘Yes’ rally in his constituency. “You must be aware that most of our neighbours, especially Somalia, are not stable as they have not seen peace for 10 years. But our security forces are on high alert to prevent smuggling of arms,” he said.

The minister assured his constituents that the proposed constitution protects their property, contrary to what they were being told. “When they tell you that your land will be taxed, they fail to explain that this will only happen in designated areas in urban centres,” he said.