GICHUGU: A 24-year-old woman identified as Rose Njiru, died in a house fire at Kiamutugu Center in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County.

The fire broke out early in the morning while the family was asleep, with neighbors reporting they were awoken by the sound of roaring flames and Njiru’s cries for help.

Eliud Muriithi, a local resident, said, “We immediately responded and alerted the area chief and the police officers.”

Despite the desperate efforts of Rose’s husband, Boniface Njiru, to rescue her, he was unable to save her.

However, he successfully managed to rescue their two children—a 15-year-old girl who was visiting and the couple’s 7-year-old daughter.

The fire consumed the home so completely that Rose was burned beyond recognition. Stephen Kaunda, another witness, noted, “She was close to the door but couldn’t escape because the fire was too intense.”

Police have since launched investigations on what caused the fire.