Woman, grandchild burn to death in suspected arson attack in Laikipia

A 59-year-old woman and her grandchild have burned to death in Laikipia County in a suspected arson attack.

The elderly woman and her 10-month-old granddaughter were locked inside the house in Solio Village 3 before it was set ablaze at around 3am Thursday by unknown people.

In what is seen as a mission to kill the woman, the arsonists also locked the houses of neighbours so that they could not respond to the fire alarm.

According to some of the neighbours who managed to get to the scene, the three-roomed wooden house was burned using petrol.

“There was a smell of petrol and it appears they poured it around the house before burning it,” said Mr Muchemi Thiga.

Efforts by the neighbours to put out the fire and save the victims bore no fruit even as the woman, identified as Susan Nyaguthii, and her granddaughter burned to death amid screams.

TOO LATE TO HELP

Authorities responded to the incident soon after they were contacted but little could be done to help the two victims.

The child was living with her grandmother as her mother had recently fallen ill.

The motive of the arson remained unclear as the family tried to come to terms with the tragedy.

“We do not know why someone would do such a heinous act. If it is a grudge then they could have just burned the house instead of killing even an innocent child,” said Ms Flora Thumbi, the deceased woman’s daughter.

Nyeri County Police Commander Eunice Kihiko confirmed the early morning incident and called on locals to record statements and give any useful information they had on the matter.

“It is being considered as arson and our detectives are looking into crucial leads,” said the police boss.