Six family members killed in arson attack at their home buried in Murang'a

A somber mood engulfed residents of Makeji village in Kandara, Murang’a County on Wednesday during the joint burial of a family of six who lost their lives in a suspected arson attack in early April.

Mary Wangui, 60, her three daughters and two grandchildren were burnt beyond recognition in the grisly incident.

The six were buried at Gatitu village, approximately 10 kilometres from where they perished.

According to government pathologist Johansen Oduor, who performed post mortems on the six at General Kago Funeral home in Thika, Kiambu County, last week, the victims died in an agonizing manner as they huddled together with no possibility of escape.

Wangui’s younger sister, Alice Mugikuyu Njoroge, was on April 11, arraigned in court in connection to the incident which police believe might have been as a result of a Ksh.2.3 billion land tussle left behind by their patriarch George Njoroge Kungu who died in the late 90s.

On the day of the incident, the main suspect is reported to have accused her sister’s grandchildren of allegedly stealing her phone, at their family home where they all dwelled.

The case will be mentioned on May 3, 2022 after Kandara Senior Resident Magistrate Eric Mutunga granted detectives 21 days to conclude investigations into the incident.