The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is engaged in a race against time to contain wildfires that have erupted in multiple national parks and protected areas across the country. With the ongoing dry season exacerbating the situation, officials have identified discarded cigarettes, arson, and honey harvesting as suspected causes of the fires.
Among the affected areas is Nairobi National Park, where two fires broke out on Thursday. The first, near Wilson Airport along the Southern Bypass, was swiftly brought under control through a collaborative effort with the Nairobi City County. However, a second fire in the Athi Basin Dam area remains a challenge, with KWS, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), volunteers, fire engines, and water bowsers actively working to contain the blaze.
In the Aberdare ecosystem, a large fire erupted between Karuru Falls and Elephant Hill, prompting an emergency response from KWS. Ground teams and helicopters were deployed to access remote areas and combat the flames. This incident follows three smaller fires in Embaringo, Wanjohi, and Gatare over the past week, which have since been contained.
Ruma National Park in Homa Bay County is also battling a persistent fire, known as the Nyoyo fire, which ignited on Friday evening and continues to burn. Meanwhile, in South Island National Park in the Loiyangalani area of Marsabit County, a bushfire that began on February 17 ravaged approximately 60 square kilometers before being extinguished after four days. Officials cited rugged terrain and strong winds as factors that complicated firefighting efforts in the region.
Additionally, a fire near the Kimothon Forest in the Mt Elgon National Park reserve posed a serious threat to critical bamboo forests and the park’s peak. However, through swift intervention by KWS and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) rangers, the fire was successfully contained. Despite this success, rangers remain on high alert, coordinating further firefighting efforts to prevent flare-ups.
While significant progress has been made in managing some of the fires, authorities warn that the persisting dry season continues to fuel active blazes. KWS, in partnership with other agencies, is working tirelessly to protect Kenya’s national parks and wildlife from further devastation. The agency has urged the public to exercise caution and avoid activities that could spark wildfires, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility in preserving the country’s natural heritage.
