Isiolo fire contained after ravaging over 600,000 acres of land
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo commended the emergency teams for their efforts and warned against reckless lighting of fires.
The devastating fire that ravaged over 600,000 acres in Isiolo County has been contained, the Ministry of Interior has announced.
The inferno, which began on January 17, primarily destroyed animal pastures in Cherab and Garbatulla sub-counties, affecting approximately 2,500 hectares of forest.
Speaking on Sunday in Sericho during an assessment visit, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo commended the emergency teams for their efforts and warned against reckless lighting of fires.
“The various emergency teams have done a commendable job. They managed to completely contain the fires yesterday and are now monitoring the situation,” he said.
Omollo revealed that the fire spread from Guthuba and Biliqi in the southern part of Ewaso Nyiro to Dadacha Basa and Sericho areas. The most affected areas include Sericho, Bandana, Dadacha Basa, Eleturku, and Merti, located about 300 kilometres from Isiolo town.
Despite the vast destruction, he confirmed that no human lives were lost.
The PS noted that investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, with reports suggesting that herders may have lit fires to clear pathways for their animals or to ward off ticks and tsetse flies.
A view of the destruction from the bushfire in Dadachabassa village, Isiolo County. (Photo: X/Happy_kulayo)
Other claims also point to honey harvesters as potential culprits. He issued a strong warning against lighting fires during the dry and windy season, emphasising that such actions could have catastrophic consequences.
“The government will take action against anyone found responsible for reckless fire lighting,” he said, adding that plans are underway to support livestock farmers who lost animals during the dry season by assisting with restocking and providing pasture.
Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi also accompanied Omollo and thanked the teams involved in firefighting efforts. He attributed the increasing frequency of such incidents to climate change.
“Just the other day, we were dealing with floods, and now we’re battling fires during the dry season. This is a clear impact of climate change,” he said, urging locals to plant trees during the rainy season to combat its effects.
The firefighting operation involved over 120 rangers, 40 specialists, and aerial surveillance. Equipment such as firebreak-creating machines, firefighting engines, and water bowsers were deployed.
The Ministry said teams from the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, National Government Administrative Officers, Northern Rangeland Trust, Kenya Red Cross, and the local community participated in the effort.
Omollo emphasised that the government is committed to enhancing the livestock value chain and improving pastoralist livelihoods.
Also present at the event were the Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, and Isiolo County Commissioner, Geoffrey Omoding.
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