Two children, Rayvan Baraka, 8, and his sister Nova Jay, 3, were playing at their home in Muthara when their father, David Mwenda, 32, arrived.
Mwenda, a motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) rider, had separated from his wife following marital conflicts and had returned to live with his parents.
The father brought milk for his children, which they drank without knowing it had been laced with poison.
Later, residents found Mwenda’s body hanging inside the house, while the two children were unconscious and had head injuries.
The children died while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Meru Level Five Referral Hospital.
The chief of Thubuku area, Bartholomew Mwika, said it is believed that Mwenda poisoned the children, then assaulted them before taking his own life.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident. Mwenda had broken his leg in October last year, which made it difficult for him to provide for his family.
His relative, Paul Mwongela, said the accident contributed to marital problems.
The family is now struggling to raise KSh 400,000 to cover burial and medical expenses. Stakeholders have warned about an increase in cases of domestic violence in the county.
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