Five family members among six burnt to death in Isiolo arson

At least six people, including a family of five, were killed in two related fire incidents in the Bulapesa area, Isiolo town.

Police linked the incidents to a love triangle saga.

The first incident involved a 45-year-old woman and four children whose charred remains were found in a house after it was set on fire.

A sixth person, a woman believed to be behind the arson of the five family members, was trailed to her house and burnt to death therein.

This is after she had been tortured and killed by a mob, police said.

The Tuesday midnight blaze, which razed the five family members ' house to the ground, left no survivors.

Three siblings and their cousin, all aged between seven and 15 years, perished alongside their mother, with property of unknown value being destroyed in the inferno, police said.

Preliminary investigations pointed to the woman suspected of having started the fire in a revenge attack fueled by a love-related conflict.

Tension rose quickly in the area as news of the deaths spread.

Irate residents hunted down the suspected arsonist, lynched her, and burned her house just a few meters from the scene of the original fire.

At the Bulapesa cemetery, located nearby, grave diggers prepared a single grave for the five victims, who were buried later that afternoon in accordance with Islamic tradition.

Family members and neighbours say they tried to put out the fire but were overwhelmed by its intensity.

No firefighting teams arrived at the scene in time to help.

Police said immediate steps were taken to protect the children of the lynched suspect, who were reportedly in school at the time.

Rumours had circulated that some youths were planning to target them in retaliation.

Police called for restraint and urged the public to allow authorities to carry out investigations.

Police have launched a full investigation into the incident as local leaders continue to appeal for calm and peaceful coexistence among residents.

Police have warned against mob lynching and want suspects to be surrendered to authorities for prosecution.

This is after it emerged that most suspects are framed and killed for a reason.