Grief as Fire Kills 67-Year-Old Kakamega Woman After Gas Cylinder Explodes: "Alishindwa Kuondoka"
- A 67-year-old woman, Florence Katera, died after her house caught fire in Kakamega’s Lunyinya area, reportedly following a gas explosion
- Her herdsboy, Luke Majoni, said he found the house fully engulfed in flames and was unable to break in to save her
- Firefighters found her charred remains alongside a burned gas cylinder and a plate in the bedroom, raising explosion suspicions
- Authorities said Florence had arthritis and mobility issues, likely preventing her from escaping the deadly fire in time
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
A quiet village in Kakamega county is in mourning after a tragic fire claimed the life of a 67-year-old woman.
Source: Youtube
Florence Katera, who lived alone in her permanent home in Lunyinya area, died after her house went up in flames, reportedly triggered by a gas explosion.
According to neighbours, a loud bang was heard around 2am, followed by flames engulfing the elderly woman’s house.
By the time help arrived, it was too late, with firefighters managing to put out the blaze, only to discover Florence’s remains inside.
Luke Majoni, her herdsboy, who had spent the previous evening with her, recounted the heartbreaking sequence of events.
"I’m the one who lives with grandma. I had gone out to herd the cows and started milking around 6pm while she was cooking in the kitchen. By the time I finished milking and tying the cows, she had finished cooking. She locked the doors, I locked the gate, and I went home to sleep," he said.
Luke said he was woken up in the middle of the night by frantic screams and upon running out, he was informed about the fire.
He explained that their efforts to break in and save her were in vain as the fire engulfed the whole house.
"When I got there, the house was already engulfed in flames. At the door, I found the padlock still locked, and we couldn’t break it open. When the firefighters arrived, they put out the fire, and that’s when we found grandma inside," he added.
Why could Kakamega woman not escape fire?
Among the charred remains, police and emergency personnel found a burnt six-kilo gas cylinder and a plate in the bedroom, raising the suspicion that Florence may have been cooking when the tragedy struck.
Source: UGC
George Maina, the Shanda Location Chief, confirmed that investigations are pointing to a likely gas leak or explosion.
"At the moment, we suspect that the cause may have been a gas explosion, as a gas cylinder was found in her bedroom. We also found a plate and other items that suggest she may have used the opportunity yesterday to prepare herself a meal," Maina said.
He also noted that Florence had mobility challenges and may not have been able to escape the blaze in time.
"She was elderly and physically frail, with a leg ailment. According to her children, she suffers from arthritis, which they manage through hospital treatment, but she has difficulty walking. We suspect that she may have been unable to escape and get to a safe area within the house," he added.
The body was taken to the local mortuary for autopsy as police launched investigations to establish the exact cause of the fire.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
