Mt. Kenya Forest Fire Burns Down 16, 000 Acres Of Land
On Saturday, March 19, a blazing fire started on the Marania Section of Mt, Kenya Forest and was still on by Wednesday, March 24.
Lydia Kadima 
According to John Njoroge, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Meru Ecosystem Conservator, the fire spread quickly due to hot weather and strong winds in the area.
Njoroge stated that firefighters from Kenya Forest Services (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), Rhino Ark, Mt Kenya Trust, and the community are assisting in putting out the fire.
The concerted efforts by the government and firefighters have not proved to be of much success as the fire destroyed 16000 acres of land.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established even though honey harvesters are being accused of starting the fire.
“We suspect the fire was started by arsonists or honey harvesters. The fire has been unmanageable due to the strong winds. Currently, the fire line is about 15 km long,” added Njoroge.
The firefighters' efforts have also been hampered by the rugged terrain, which has made access to the area impossible for water boozers.
Mt Kenya Trust has been at the forefront of firefighting efforts and reports that the fire has re-ignited hours after it was successfully extinguished.
“The situation is out of control. The firefighters are overwhelmed because we have been handling fires in Mt Kenya and Aberdares in the last 10 days. It is an emergency,” stated Mt Kenya Trust.
The Trust suspected that some criminals were purposefully starting fires. The severity of the wildfires has had a negative impact on the natural ecosystem, killing hundreds of wildlife while destroying the vegetation.
