Firefighting groups from KWS, KDF, KFS, volunteers’ and county governments battling the fires. PHOTO/KWS.
By JEOL MWASI
Over the previous few days, a number of nationwide parks managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have been ravaged by a collection of wildfires, posing a big risk to Kenya’s delicate ecosystems and wildlife.
In accordance with KWS, the outbreaks have spurred emergency responses from numerous companies, together with KWS, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), native volunteers, county governments, and neighborhood members, all working tirelessly to fight the infernos.
KWS, the state company chargeable for the administration of nationwide parks and wildlife reserves throughout Kenya, has issued updates on the state of affairs, revealing the size of the continued disaster and the progress being made.
Nonetheless, the severity of the wildfires continues to pose a big problem, with many areas nonetheless below energetic containment efforts. As of the most recent stories, KWS has been mobilising its assets to battle the blazes in numerous areas, with various ranges of success.
KWS mentioned on Thursday, two separate fires broke out inside the Nairobi Nationwide Park. The primary hearth, positioned close to Wilson Airport alongside the Southern Bypass, was swiftly contained due to the coordinated efforts of KWS and the Nairobi County Authorities.
Nonetheless, a second blaze erupted within the Athi Basin Dam space at 4:00 PM, and it stays an ongoing firefighting operation. Floor groups, supported by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), volunteers, hearth engines, and water bowsers, are working tirelessly to include the flames and forestall additional unfold.
Within the Aberdare ecosystem a big hearth broke out between Karuru Falls and Elephant Hill, a area already dealing with the lingering results of three smaller fires in Embaringo, Wanjohi, and Gatare.
KWS mentioned it has deployed each floor groups and helicopters to entry these distant areas, because the rugged terrain complicates firefighting efforts. Luckily, these smaller fires have been contained, though vigilance stays excessive.
It mentioned at Ruma Nationwide Park in Homa Bay County, a fireplace often called the “Nyoyo hearth” ignited yesterday night, making a race in opposition to time for firefighting groups to suppress the blaze earlier than rising temperatures make containment tougher. These groups are already mobilised and able to take swift motion at first gentle.
KWS mentioned South Island Nationwide Park in Loiyangalani, Marsabit County had additionally been affected. It mentioned a bushfire ignited on February 17, 2025, within the Marti Esse plains, that are a part of the proposed ASHE Conservancy.
Cupboard Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, touring a few of the affected parks. PHOTO/KWS
This blaze burned for 4 days, protecting an space of roughly 60 sq. kilometres. Although the hearth has now been extinguished, the rugged terrain and powerful winds made it notably difficult for firefighting efforts.
KWS famous that whereas the wildfires are a critical concern, there have been notable successes in containing a few of the blazes. It added that at Mt Elgon Nationwide Park, a fireplace that broke out within the Kimothon Forest close to Saum inside the forest reserve was a big trigger for concern.
The fireplace rapidly unfold towards the park’s crucial bamboo forests and its peak, threatening some of the ecologically delicate areas of the park. Due to swift motion by KWS and KFS rangers, the blaze was efficiently suppressed. Rangers stay on excessive alert, persevering with their efforts to forestall flare-ups within the space.
KWS additionally revealed that at Tsavo West Nationwide Park, a fireplace that broke out lately in Tsavo West has been totally contained, a lot to the aid of conservationists and park authorities.
“This marks a significant victory within the ongoing battle in opposition to wildfires in Kenya’s nationwide parks,” KWS mentioned.
It mentioned in Aberdare ecosystem regardless of some latest outbreaks, akin to these in Embaringo, Wanjohi, and Gatare, these fires have been efficiently contained.
“Nonetheless, the state of affairs stays fluid, and the danger of recent outbreaks stays a critical concern,” it added.
The precise causes of the wildfires in numerous parks are nonetheless below investigation. Nonetheless, a spread of things is believed to contribute to the outbreak of those fires.
Human actions akin to discarded cigarettes, arson, and honey harvesting, in addition to excessive dry situations exacerbated by the continued dry season, are suspected to play a task.
Particularly, the hearth within the Mt Elgon area highlighted the dangers posed to ecologically delicate areas, akin to bamboo forests, that are extremely weak to fireplace injury.
Equally, the hearth in South Island Nationwide Park underscored the difficulties posed by rugged terrain, which made firefighting efforts far more difficult. The sturdy winds and tough situations made it more durable to include the blaze rapidly.
A WhatsApp hotline and a toll-free quantity to report hearth outbreaks have been supplied by KWS. PHOTO/KWS
KWS has outlined a collection of methods to curb the influence of the fires and forestall future outbreaks. These measures embrace enhanced aerial and floor patrols and elevated surveillance in high-risk zones to watch and reply to potential threats.
There’s additionally speedy deployment of firefighting models and the usage of helicopters and floor firefighting groups for faster containment and collaboration with native communities and dealing intently with county Governments and conservation companions to strengthen response efforts.
In an effort to additional perceive and tackle the disaster, the Cupboard Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, is anticipated to go to Nairobi Nationwide Park.
She is ready to evaluate the state of affairs first-hand and maintain a briefing to offer updates on the response efforts. Her go to can even embrace a morale-boosting session with the firefighters and different emergency groups on the bottom, acknowledging their tireless efforts.
In gentle of the continued disaster, KWS has issued a public advisory urging residents and guests to stick to emergency directives. The general public is urged to keep away from actions that might probably ignite fires, akin to lighting open flames or discarding cigarettes.
Those that observe potential hearth hazards are inspired to right away report them to KWS via their toll-free quantity 0800 597 000 or WhatsApp quantity 0726610509.
The continuing assist from KDF, KFS rangers, volunteers, native communities, and county companies has been essential within the battle in opposition to these devastating fires. Their collaborative efforts are very important to safeguarding Kenya’s wealthy biodiversity and making certain the survival of its distinctive wildlife.
The continuing dry season presents an actual and ongoing threat to Kenya’s nationwide parks, and the necessity for continued vigilance and neighborhood engagement has by no means been extra urgent.
Collectively, via swift motion, inter-agency cooperation, and public consciousness, Kenya can defend its pure heritage from the devastating results of wildfires.
