Two-year-old dies in Nairobi jiko carbon monoxide leak

A two-year-old girl died after suffocating from carbon monoxide believed to have emanated from a burning jiko in a house in Buruburu’s Biafra estate, Nairobi.

Her 28-year-old mother was rushed to hospital in serious condition following the incident, police said.

The body of the minor was discovered on Thursday morning by a friend who had gone to the house, police said.

The woman is said to have gone to sleep after leaving a burning jiko inside the house. She had locked the house in an attempt to keep it warm following rains, police said.

She had earlier told her friend, who was to visit, that she would be asleep and he should wake her up when he arrived.

The visiting friend broke into the house and found the woman and the girl lying unresponsive.

Police who visited the scene said there was a burning jiko in the house, which is believed to have caused the incident.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, odourless gas produced by burning charcoal or wood. It is known to be dangerous in poorly ventilated spaces and can be more harmful when people are asleep.

Officials warn against the use of jikos in poorly ventilated areas.

In a separate incident, a woman was found murdered following a domestic dispute in Ayego, Uriri, Migori County.

The body of Emily Atieno, 43, was found in her compound on April 29.

Police and neighbours said she had quarrelled with her husband in the house before the incident.

Police who visited the scene said the body had a deep cut on the neck and was lying in a pool of blood.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy and investigations. The assailant escaped from the scene and efforts to arrest him are ongoing, police said.