Couple, three-year-old baby burnt to death in Rangwe home

Police in Rangwe are investigating an incident in which a couple and a three-year-old child were found burnt to death in their house.

The couple and their child who hailed from Kalithe village in the South Kagan location burnt after a fire broke out in their house on Thursday morning.

Kennedy Oluoch, 41, his wife Vivian, 29, and their baby Denmark, 3, died in a fire incident whose cause is not yet established.

Kennedy's father Lithe Nyauke said he realised the house was on fire around 5:30 am.

“I was passing by when I noticed suspicious smoke from the house. I called his brother before we came and broke the door to gain entry as it was locked from the inside,” Nyauke said. 

Nyauke said they were perplexed with the incident and called for faster investigations.  

“Nothing was salvaged from the fire because we had difficulties opening the door,” he added.

Kepha Otieno, one of Kennedy's brothers, who was among the first people at the scene said the house had a lot of smoke when they got in. 

Otieno said he saw his brother's body lying burnt on the bed. Next to that of his wife and child.

 “There was a panga next to the bodies. We appeal for the investigative authority to establish the cause of death,” Otieno said.

According to the family, someone could have killed their relatives and set the house on fire as a cover-up.  Neighbours also said the couple had earlier been involved in a fight.

West Migori sublocation assistant chief Evelyn Otiu said she was called 30 minutes later after the fire incident.

 “The matter was reported to Rangwe police station for further investigations,” Otiu said.

Otiu said they are working with the police to know the cause of the fire.

County police commander Samson Kinne said investigations into the incident are ongoing and the bodies have been moved to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.