Three people died and two others sustained serious burns when suspected arsonists in Makueni torched their house on the wee hours of Sunday morning.
The three succumbed to their injuries at the Makueni County Referral Hospital where they were taken for treatment following the fire incident at Nyunzu trading centre.
Makueni County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed confirmed the incident, saying a mother, 27, and her two children — a five-month old and two-year-old — succumbed to their injuries.
Mohammed said that one of the victims, a woman, who is in critical condition at the hospital, is involved in a land dispute with her brother, who does not want her to get a share of the land.
“This was a planned incident as there is a strong smell of petrol that was used to burn the house. We cannot condone this, the county criminal investigation officer has initiated investigations and the culprits will be brought to book,” said Mohammed.
The administrator said that village elders had agreed to subdivide the disputed land on Sunday, but now will have to wait until the woman recovers.
He warned members of the public against taking the law into their hands.
“Even if you commit such heinous acts, you cannot get what you want. The government will not condone such acts and we shall take tough measures on individuals committing such vices,” he warned.
The bodies were taken to the Makueni Referral Hospital mortuary.
