Police in Kirinyaga County are investigating an incident where a 45-year-old woman died in a fire incident at Getuya village in Ndia Constituency on Sunday night.

According to Kirinyaga West sub-county police commander Moses Koskei, the woman's body was discovered burnt beyond recognition by the residents inside the house after the fire had been doused.

"The incident happened last night when the owner of the homestead was not around," Koskei said.

Shocked residents said the owner of the homestead, a clergyman, was in church when the incident occurred.

"He is a reverend in an Anglican church in Mwea and when the incident happened he was not around he was called by the area Assistant Chief after an alarm was raised," one of the locals, Patrick Macharia said.

The deceased was employed to care for the homestead as his wife is also a church leader in a different church, relatives of the homeowner said. 

Police boss Koskei said investigations into the incident have started.

"We are yet to establish the cause of the fire and the cost of the properties destroyed," Koskei added.