Mt Kenya Wildfire Destroys More Than 8,700 Hectares Of Moorland

By Elijah Cherutich

A wildfire has destroyed more than 8,700 hectares of moorland in the Mt Kenya ecosystem, with strong winds and high temperatures making it harder to contain.

The fire started about seven days ago near Rutundu Lodge and has spread quickly to several parts of the forest, according to conservation organisation Rhino Ark.

Rhino Ark said strong winds and high temperatures sped up the fire, leaving firefighting teams to fight blazes on several fronts.

“Due to strong winds and high temperatures, the fire spread very quickly into two directions, to the north towards Marania Forest and to the south-west towards Chogoria,” the organisation said in a statement.

It said teams from the Mt Kenya Trust, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) responded quickly but could not stop the fire from spreading.

Rhino Ark and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have since joined the effort to contain the blaze and limit further damage to the forest ecosystem.

The conservation organisation, working with Tropic Air, is also carrying out daily aerial reconnaissance flights to help plan and coordinate firefighting operations.

According to Rhino Ark, the fire in the northern section of the ecosystem has been contained, but the blaze in the southern section is still active.

“The fire in the northern area was contained. However, the one in the south is still raging, with all the partners on the ground tackling it the best way possible,” the organisation said.

The destruction comes as parts of the country continue to face dry conditions, raising concern about the effects of prolonged water shortages on agriculture, livestock and food production.

The wildfire has also raised concern about how exposed Kenya’s forest ecosystems are to prolonged dry spells, high temperatures and strong winds.

Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions, with forecasts pointing to changing rainfall patterns in parts of the country. Any reference to El Niño rains should be tied to the latest official forecast from the Kenya Meteorological Department before publication.