Three Children Killed in Gas Cylinder Fire at Siaya Home

Three children died after a newly purchased 13-kilogramme gas cylinder reportedly erupted into flames, sparking a devastating house fire in Mahoma Village, Gem Sub-County, Siaya County.

The incident occurred on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the home of a teacher at St Mary's Yala National School, according to police. Preliminary investigations indicate the cylinder had recently been purchased from an unknown manufacturer, with the circumstances surrounding its condition and the cause of the explosion now part of the ongoing investigation.

Police said the mother of one of the children was preparing a meal inside the house when the incident occurred, with her three-year-old daughter and two children from a neighbouring family present. She had just lit the cylinder when it allegedly erupted into flames, triggering panic that forced her to run outside for help — while the three children remained trapped inside.

As the fire spread rapidly through the house, the children reportedly retreated into one of the bedrooms. Neighbours who responded to the woman's calls attempted to put out the flames, but were unable to do so in time. By the time the fire was brought under control, all three children had died.

The victims were identified as Maryreta Odhiambo, 3 — the daughter of the woman preparing the meal — along with Maxwell Omondi Ochieng, 7, a Grade One pupil at Kararwo Pro School, and John Omondi, 12, a Grade Seven pupil at Kagilo Primary School. Maxwell and John were from the neighbouring family and happened to be in the house when the fire broke out.

The blaze also destroyed household property, though police had not immediately established its value. Crime Scene Investigation officers processed the scene as part of efforts to determine the cause of the fire, and the bodies were taken to Yala Level IV Hospital mortuary, where they are being preserved pending postmortem examinations. DNA testing is also expected to assist with definitive identification, given the extent of the burns.

Police said they are working with other relevant agencies as investigations continue into the cylinder, its installation, and the broader circumstances that allowed the fire to spread so quickly. The tragedy has left two families mourning the loss of three children.