Man kills wife, children before setting house on fire

Five members of the same family were found dead in their house in Weiteithie, Kiambu County in what is suspected to be a murder case.

A middle-aged man identified as Patrick Nderitu Karuiru is alleged to have killed his wife and three children aged below 10 years at their home before setting the house on fire.

According to the police, neighbours noticed the fire and rushed to the rescue. After breaking into the house, the residents, who were accompanied by the local chief, found the body of Mr. Karuiru on the verandah.

On getting into the bedroom, the neighbours were met by the shocking sight of the charred remains of the three children and their mother, Rosemary Kaninia on the bed.

The bodies of the children, two boys and a girl, and that of their mother had physical injuries on the head, raising suspicion that they were murdered before the house was set on fire.

Preliminary investigations showed that the children, Joe Muraya, 8, and his 3-year-old twin brother and sister; Jeff Mutua and Joy Wangui, had been strangled and hit with a blunt object.

Police have launched investigations into the incident.