The Aberdare National Park is on fire. According to reports, nearly 6000 hectares of the forest has been destroyed by the inferno which started on Friday at 10 am.
More than 200 firefighters from the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and others from the Ministry of Interior have been sent to the park to contain the wildfire that has been propelled by the windy weather.
Confirming the incident, Mountain Conservation acting assistant director, Simon Gitau, divulged that: "We are trying to prevent the fire from getting to the main natural forest. What is burning can regenerate fast since its shrubs, heath and moorland grasses."
Mr Gitau mentioned that the fire could have been lit by individuals conducting illegal business in the area.
“We suspect the fire was started by people conducting illegal activities in the forest," he said.
Nyeri ecosystem conservator and KFS zonal manager Muchiri Mathinji warned the residents to be keen.
“We are calling on people living near forests to be very careful and avoid using fire without any measures,” Mathinji said.
