Esther Nduko, a Kenyan woman who survived a devastating house fire in Ngei Village, Huruma, Mathare Constituency, has finally been discharged from Kenyatta National Hospital after spending several months receiving treatment for severe burn injuries. Her release from the hospital marks a painful new chapter in her life. Nduko walks out having lost almost everyone closest to her, including her two young children, Blessing Mutheu and Shine Mutheu, and her sister, Jane Mutheu, who all died in the inferno.
The fire broke out following a domestic dispute between Nduko and her husband, Victor Kitheka. According to accounts of the tragedy, Kitheka allegedly attacked Nduko before allegedly setting the house ablaze. Both Nduko and Kitheka were pulled out and rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital with critical injuries. The bodies of the two children and Jane Mutheu were later taken to Waita location, Mwingi, Kitui County, for burial. Kitheka survived the immediate incident but succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards.
During one of the family's most devastating periods, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko stepped forward to offer assistance. Sonko visited Nduko at KNH and contributed financially towards the funeral arrangements for the victims. His contribution covered costs including coffins, hearses, flowers, food, and sound services, helping ease the burden on a family overwhelmed by grief.
The incident occurred on Monday, April 20, shortly after midnight in the Mbuthia area, when a neighbour raised the alarm at around 12 am. By the time police arrived, a small one-room home had already been engulfed in flames, leaving behind a scene of loss that has shaken the close-knit community. According to police, Kitheka is believed to have entered the house, locked the door from inside, and engaged in a violent altercation with his wife before setting the house ablaze.
Nduko spent months at Kenyatta National Hospital recovering from severe burns. While she's happy to be alive, she walks into a new chapter in which she lost almost everyone closest to her. The road ahead remains deeply difficult for Nduko as she faces the dual challenge of processing profound loss while simultaneously rebuilding her life from the ground up.
Nduko's family and those who have supported her through this period are appealing to the public for privacy, compassion, and continued solidarity as she takes her first steps outside hospital walls. The community is still reeling from the shock of the tragic incident, and many have been offering support to Nduko during this difficult time.
As Nduko begins her new life outside the hospital, she will have to come to terms with the loss of her loved ones and find a way to move forward. The incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic disputes and the importance of seeking help and support in times of need.
Key points
- Esther Nduko was discharged from Kenyatta National Hospital after months of treatment for severe burns from a house fire in Huruma that killed her family.
- The fire was a result of a domestic dispute between Nduko and her husband, Victor Kitheka, who allegedly set the house ablaze.
- Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko offered financial assistance to Nduko's family for funeral arrangements.
