Sombre mood as 7 family members buried in Embu

Emotions ran high as seven family members of one family who were burnt beyond recognition inside their house were buried at their home in Ngimari in Embu East sub-county.

The victims were buried in one grave in one compound bringing to an end the family that bounded together since 2008.

Charles Kariuki Njeru,50, his wife Catherine Wanjiru Kariuki, 46, their three children Judy Wanjiru Kariuki,23, Maryan Murugi Kariuki,14, Joel Njeru Kariuki,7, and two grandchildren Tumaini Blessing Judy and Prince Baraka Judy aged 5 and 3 years respectively were burnt in unclear circumstances while asleep on Sunday, October 7, 2022.

The seven caskets carrying the remains of the seven victims lay side by side at Gichiche Primary School where a joint burial ceremony took place.

Tears flew uncontrollably as mourners remembered how they well lived with the deceased's members.

Students who schooled with young deceased members of the family sang solemnly as they paid their last respects to their classmates.

"Rest in peace till we meet again," part of the song read.

Mourners who got little energy to speak described the family as jovial and respected everybody in the community.

“What did this family do to meet such treatment from who did this act, it is painful," Dr Oliver Kariuki, a relative said.

He said justice was the only remedy for their hearts that investigators can offer.

Embu leaders call for speedy investigations

Leaders who graced the burial led by Embu governor Cecily Mbarire condemned the fatal attack for a whole family and demanded justice for the seven deceased family members.

“We want the government to move with speed and ensure that the perpetrators of this erroneous act are brought to book and charged,” Mbarire said adding that the victims did not deserve such a painful death.

“This will forever be etched in the minds of everybody in this community, “she said.

The county boss said that the DCI had said they had located mobile phones which were at the scene during the eventful morning but no one has ever been arrested.

"We cannot let this go DCI, we will follow up on the matter to the letter. If the DCI won't do its work well we will demand they be transferred and we get competent people who can investigate and tell us what happened."

Runyenjes Member of Parliament Eric Muchangi said that he learned of the fire incident with great shock.

“It is regrettable that we have lost a whole family, what really might have happened for those who did this act to these people, a person killing a whole generation really? it's painful, “ Muchangi stated.

Muchangi underscored the need to have thorough investigations into the death and have those who did the activities meet the edges of the law.

"If we won't get justice for this family then the DCI should tell us why," he added.

He also said he will question the security on the matter on the floor of the house saying he won't relax until the root cause of the matter is put on the table.

Embu woman representative Pamela Njoki Njeru castigated the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) for moving slowly in investigating the matter. She wondered why after the incident no one has ever been arrested.

“We tried every time such kind of incident happen we are told to wait and that all, on this we are not letting it go, what we need is to see who did this before a court of law," Njoki noted.

Embu senator Alexander Mundigi on his part said the incident was a criminal activity.

Mundigi called security to ensure night patrol to deal with a gang that was terrorizing locals at night.

He said cases of insecurity had increased in the recent past within the county.

Embu East Subcounty deputy county commissioner Jane Waruige said investigations into the death of the seven family members were ongoing and urged members of the public to volunteer any information that would lead to the arrest of suspects.

The seven victims lost their lives in the cruellest manner after their house was allegedly set ablaze by unknown assailants.

Locals who responded to the distress call when the house was on fire said that the fire had started from the door.