Carelessly dropped cigarette caused fire at Nairobi National Park - CS Miano

A fire that razed 210 acres of Nairobi National Park was caused by a discarded cigarette butt, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has revealed.

Speaking during an assessment visit, Miano said the fire broke out in the Athi Basin area near Kitengela and was successfully contained through a coordinated multi-agency effort.

“This is the fire season, running from January to March when dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires. As you can see, the affected area is at the farthest end of the park near the road. It appears that someone passing through carelessly dropped a lit cigarette, which ignited the dry grass and spread rapidly,” she told journalists.

The fire, which started around 4 p.m., was put out later that night with the combined efforts of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), county government teams, security agencies, and local community members.

Miano commended the response teams for their swift action and reassured the public that no wildlife was reported harmed.

“Despite the extent of the fire, there is no evidence of animal fatalities. I also want to assure visitors that the park remains open, and tourism activities, including game drives, are ongoing,” she said.

Wildlife safety

The Cabinet Secretary further emphasised that no animals were lost in the fire, highlighting the efforts of KWS rangers, particularly the rhino monitoring units, in ensuring wildlife safety.

“I have been told categorically that no animals were lost in the fire. KWS rangers responded quickly to secure the safety of wildlife in the park,” she said.

Although the burned area accounts for less than one per cent of the park’s total land, Miano acknowledged that even small-scale habitat loss can have environmental consequences.

“Scientifically, habitat loss, no matter how minor, can affect biodiversity. But we are fortunate that this accident was contained swiftly and did not escalate into a larger environmental disaster,” she said.

Miano also pointed out other recent wildfire incidents in Kenya’s protected areas, including fires in the Aberdare ecosystem, as she called for heightened vigilance during the dry season.

“I urge all Kenyans to remain vigilant and promptly report any signs of fire outbreaks to authorities. The government remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding these invaluable resources for future generations,” she said.

“In a whole of government approach, I extend my sincere gratitude to our firefighters, KWS, KDF, KFS, Nairobi County Government, communities and partners, who worked tirelessly to contain the fire.”

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