A massive wildfire swept through Imbirikani in Kajiado South, spreading into parts of the Chyulu Hills National Park and leaving behind a trail of destruction. The blaze, which broke out earlier this week, scorched vast areas of range land and raised alarm among conservationists, local communities and authorities.
The fire destroyed vegetation that pastoralists depended on for grazing while also threatening wildlife habitats within the Chyulu ecosystem. Elephants, antelopes and smaller species were among the animals affected as flames consumed grasslands and bush cover, forcing them to flee to safer grounds.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers, community members and volunteers worked tirelessly to contain the fire. Despite the challenges of strong winds and dry conditions, which made fire fighting efforts difficult, the blaze was eventually contained. However, the damages remained huge, with significant losses to both biodiversity and livelihoods.
The disaster came less than a month after another destructive wildfire ravaged parts of Amboseli National Park, also in Kajiado County. The Amboseli blaze destroyed hundreds of acres of grassland, affecting both local communities and wildlife that relied on the park’s ecosystem. The back-to-back outbreaks of wildfires in the region sparked concern over the increasing frequency and intensity of such disasters, with climate change, prolonged droughts and human activity being identified as major contributing factors.
Conservation groups urged the government to strengthen disaster preparedness and invest in better fire management systems to prevent further losses. They also called for more community awareness and collaboration in tackling wildfires, which have become a recurring threat to Kenya’s fragile ecosystems.
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Although the Imbirikani blaze had been contained, experts warned that recovery of the range land and wildlife habitats would take years. Meanwhile, local communities were left counting their losses as grazing lands turned to ashes and water sources faced depletion due to the fire’s aftermath.
By Benedict Aoya
