Coffins bearing the remains of three siblings - (from left) Elisha Kiprotich, Joy Cheptoo and Emmanuel Kiptoo - who died in a fire tragedy that burnt down their parents' house as they slept during the funeral service at Kimatisio village, Chepalungu Constituency of Bomet County on July 9, 2026.
Three young children, two of them twins, who died in a house fire have been buried in an emotional send-off in Bomet County.
The children died in a fire that razed the semi-permanent house in which they were sleeping on March 1 at Kimatisio village in Chepalungu Constituency, Bomet County. Their mother and another young child were sleeping in an adjacent room that was not affected by the fire.
Elisha Kiprotich, 7, and seven-year-old twins Joy Cheptoo and Emmanuel Kiptoo died in the tragic fire incident, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) taking over the investigations.
It was an emotional ceremony as thousands of mourners gathered at the family's home on Thursday to bid the children a final farewell in a tragedy that shocked residents across the region.
The three children who died in a fire tragedy in Bomet - (from left) Elisha Kiprotich, Joy Cheptoo and Emmanuel Kiptoo - as seen in an earlier picture.
The children's bodies, in white coffins, lay before mourners in a large tent, with their portraits placed at the head of each flower-adorned coffin as tears flowed throughout the more than seven-hour ceremony.
Mr Boniface Kirui, the children's father, and his wife, Faith Kirui, paid emotional tributes to their children.
"I do not have the energy to say much, but I thank God for the blessing of these children and the short time we had together while they were alive," said Mr Kirui, an employee of the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).
"The tragedy that has befallen us as a family is too great to comprehend. I thank God for all the good things that have happened to us as a family, but this is too much to bear," he said.
On the night of the tragedy, Mr Kirui had returned to his workstation in Nandi County after spending a few days on leave with his family.
"I received the news at 1am on the material day. I woke up and almost left the house naked. It sounded like a bad dream, only to realise it was the bitter truth," he said.
Boniface Kirui (right) and his wife Faith Kirui, the parents of the three children who died in a fire incident at Kimatisio village, Nyangores ward, Chepalungu constituency, Bomet county, during the funeral on July 9, 2026.
Mr Kirui revealed that his car had recently been stolen, his shop repeatedly broken into, and that there was an ongoing dispute over land he had recently bought.
"I have been through a lot in life, but this is the worst. We are only beginning to come to terms with the reality that we have lost our three beloved children," he said.
He said relatives, friends and members of the community had urged him over the past week to relocate from Kimatisio to Kyogong, near Bomet town, where his extended family lives, and bury the children there, but he declined.
"I pray that nothing like this ever happens to anyone. It is heartbreaking that we have lost our youngest children, and as parents, we are here to bury them instead of them burying us. I wish they had lived to adulthood and buried us when we died of old age," Mr Kirui said.
"We have received tremendous support from our immediate and extended family, the local community and my employer, REREC. That support has sustained us over the past week following this tragedy," he added.
Faith was too overwhelmed with emotion to address mourners as she held the couple's only surviving child. However, in a written joint tribute with her husband, she described the children as the greatest blessing God had given them.
"From the day each of you was born, our home was filled with laughter, hope and unconditional love. You brought purpose to our lives and taught us the true meaning of joy through your innocent smiles, playful moments and loving embraces," the couple said.
"Though your time with us was far too short, every moment we shared will remain treasured in our hearts forever."
"Losing all three of you at once is a pain beyond words, but we find comfort in knowing that you are safely in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father."
"We thank God for the precious gift of your lives and for the beautiful memories you have left behind. Until we meet again, you will forever remain our pride, our joy and our greatest blessings. Rest peacefully, our dear children," the heartbroken couple said.
Speculation has been rife in the area that the incident may have been a case of arson following a series of misfortunes that had befallen the family in recent months.
"I appeal to everyone not to engage in blame and counter-blame over this tragic incident. Please pray for us as a family so that one day this painful experience may become a testimony that good can eventually emerge from difficult times," Mr Kirui said.
Police have since taken over the investigations, with the DCI promising to establish the cause of the fire.
The remains of a house that was gutted down by a fire at Kimatisio village, Chepalungu constituency of Bomet county killing three children, in this picture taken on July 9, 2026.
"We are investigating the cause of the unfortunate incident in which a fire burnt down a house where three young children died in their sleep. The house was reduced to ashes," said Bomet County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) Emmanuel Ogao.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Bomet Deputy Governor Shadrack Rotich, Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei, Woman Representative Linet Chepkorir, Chepalungu MP Victor Koech, Kuresoi North MP Alfred Mutai, Kesses MP Julius Ruto, REREC Chief Executive Officer Dr Rose Ndanu Mkalama, REREC Chairman Godfrey Lemiso and politician Yvonne Chepkirui Kones were among those who attended the funeral.
"It is unfortunate that this tragedy has struck this young family and claimed the lives of their three children. We take comfort in the fact that one child survived and pray that they will be blessed again," Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said.
Chepalungu MP Victor Koech said: "We appeal to the police to conduct thorough investigations into the incident to dispel claims of foul play."
The three children were buried side by side a few metres from the scene of the fire. Ashes, burnt timber, iron sheets, utensils and other household items remain untouched because the area is still an active crime scene.
The charred structure remains a painful reminder of the tragedy that claimed the lives of the children, who were trapped inside the house, which also served as the family kitchen, as the fire engulfed it. No public viewing of the bodies was conducted because of the severity of the burns.
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