Unfortunately a section of Mt Kenya Forest has been destroyed in yet another bush fire as the water tower continues to suffer damage for the fourth consecutive month this year.Alarming right?
The increased number of forest fires in the Mt.Kenya region has been blamed on the ongoing dry spell conditions and honey hunters.
The fire broke on the moorland section of Marania Forest on the eastern side of the mountain in a case of suspected arson.
Kenya Forest Service Eastern Regional boss Beatrice Mbula said that by Sunday morning the fire had been contained but rangers would remain on the mountain to monitor the situation.
FIRE BREAKS out at Marania on the Eastern side of Mt Kenya Forest; KFS boss Beatrice Mbula says forest rangers dispatched to fight the blaze. 🎦: Courtesy pic.twitter.com/dM7S2bV8id
— NationBreakingNews (@NationBreaking) May 12, 2019
“There were small pockets of fire earlier this morning in the moorland. KWS and KFS teams and other stakeholders responded and managed to put it out,” Ms Mbula said.
The cause of the fire and extent of the damage are still subject to review but officials believe it could have been deliberately lit.
In March alone,Kenya Forest Service Chief Conservator Monica Kalenda said more than 100 fire incidents had been reported since January.
Kalenda said more than 90,000 hectares of forest cover valued at Ksh 1 billion had been destroyed in the fire which razed the Mount Kenya National Park.
“Up to now, 80,000 hectares of moorland, 388.5 acres of grass, 93 of exotic plantations, 94 of indigenous plantation and hectares of other sections have been destroyed,” she said.