Victor Kwatemba on the left and Philemon Abayo on the right
By Isaac Kariuki
Lynchburg, Virginia – Tragedy struck the Kenyan community in Lynchburg Virginia as two Kenyans died in a house fire early Sunday morning May 15th 2011.
Philemon Abayo and Victor Kwatemba died inside a basement that caught fire on Valleydale Drive. The two were students of Liberty University living outside the campus. According to eye witness, neighbours were woken up at 5.30 am by fire truck siren racing towards the duplex where the two lived.
Three people who were upstairs and one person in the basement got out uninjured. All that remains of the house is burned walls, boarded windows, and the haunting memory of the fire that took two Kenyans lives.
Victor Kwatemba came to the US in January 2011 and joined Liberty University where he was studying for the last 4 months while Philemon Abayo Onyango has been with the University for more than 2 years.
The cause of the fire is still under police investigation. Reports from Kenyans who live in the area and study at Liberty University, a predominantly Christian institution says that the two dead Kenyans had earlier in the evening joined other Kenyans in a graduation party for other Kenyans who graduated from Liberty University.
The party was held few miles away from the house where the victims died. Victor and Philemon lived in a rented basement room of a stand-alone 3-bedroom house. The main house was occupied by a couple with their son and dog.
The couple that occupied the main house (upstairs) explained that they were awakened by their barking dog, and they realized that smoke was belching into the house.
The police and paramedic arrived, only to find that Victor and Philemon were dead in the basement room. Kenyans are saddened by this horrendous tragedy as they await the outcome of the police investigation.
According to Dr. Ben Chepkoit, who has been liaising with the University officials, the university will provide detail report as soon as police investigation is received, which is expected by Tuesday, May 17th 2011.
Upon receipt of police clearance, the next of kin and family, and the Kenyans at Liberty University, will organize for memorial service, which will be announced by Wednesday this week.
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