CS Miano issues warning after numerous fires in national parks

Two weeks after a fire ravaged part of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi National Park, Mount Elgon Forest, Aberdare, Tsavo, and Ruma in Homa Bay County are the latest casualties of wildfires.

The wildfires have been attributed to the ongoing extreme heat in the country, with Nairobi National Park experiencing two fire outbreaks on Friday evening.

The first incident was reported on Thursday near Wilson Airport along the Southern Bypass, while the second occurred at the Athi Basin Dam.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), and firefighters have been working to put out the flames.

According to Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, KWS teams have been battling wildfires at the Aberdare Forest, Ruma National Park in Homa Bay County, and South Island National Park (Loiyangalani, Marsabit County), where a bushfire in the Marti Esse plains burned approximately 60 square kilometers.

Other parks that have fallen victim to the wildfires include Mt. Elgon National Park, where the fire erupted in the Kimothon Forest, and Tsavo West National Park.

The ministry says they have managed to contain fires at the Aberdare ecosystem, where outbreaks were witnessed in the Embaringo, Wanjohi, and Gatare areas.

According to CS Miano, these fires are suspected to have been caused by human activities such as smoking, bush burning, and honey harvesting.

"It is believed that somebody passing might have dropped a cigarette, and because this is a fire season—every year between January and March, we have the high alert of fire season due to the dry season—it easily caught the dry savannah, and that's how the fire spread,” Miano stated.

According to the Meteorological Department, most parts of the country continue to experience extreme heat, although some areas of western Kenya and the Rift Valley are expected to receive light rainfall starting next week and into mid-March.

"Generally, the temperatures have been rising. There are some places where you find the temperatures are slightly lower than the average, but that doesn't change the upward trend. That is why we would advise that we be careful with what we do because we have a lot of dry leaves being thrown all over,” said the Meteorological Department CEO, Dr. David Gikungu.

"Things are not really that bad. The season will come as per the forecast. It is only in northern Kenya that rainfall will be reduced, as well as the coast, but that doesn't mean zero."

CS Rebecca Miano added, "We are reviewing and strengthening our fire management strategies to prevent future outbreaks. This includes investing in early warning systems, firebreaks, and community education programs because they are significant partners when we have such crises."