With the rise in frequency of forest fires ravaging parts of Mau Forest and other conservancies within the expansive Rift Valley region, new efforts are being made to mitigate the trend.

This comes as Forestry CS Soipan Tuya and Forestry PS Ephantus Kimotho Kimani visited Nakuru County last week to find a long lasting solution.

Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is mandated to manage the forest and the Nakuru KFS headquarters – Mau Conservancy - hosted community forest officials in efforts to mitigate frequent fires.

Speaking after meeting various Community Forest Associations members (CFA), Tuya called upon area residents and the community to collaborate with KFS to prevent the outbreak of fires and conserve the environment, which is key in the management climate change as one ecosystem. 

“Statistics from the Ministry of Environment indicate that since December 2022, there have been over 180 fire incidences across the country, with speculation rife that the fires are caused by human acts and not natural factors. We are here today to engage the locals and find a long lasting solution”, said CS Tuya.

Mau Conservancy leads, followed by Central highlands and Western region in terms of fires from the study of reported cases within the KFS. Tuya said the Ministry is implementing the Government’s Plan on forest conservation and management with public-private partnership and multi-agency collaborations with all the stakeholders within the forestry ecosystem. 

Tuya also noted the Ministry’s programme of working with the Interior ministry led by CS Kithure Kindiki to accelerate efforts of planting 15 billion trees in the next 10 years as articulated by President William Ruto as part of the government’s agenda to mitigate climate change and improve biodiversity. 

“Currently 1 tree sustains four lives from the oxygen we breathe. It is therefore expected we need to plant between 300 to 400 trees daily to continue sustaining many lives. It’s all about our lives and the future of generations. That’s why the main reason for us to tour this conservancy and get the comments from the community is through a multi agency approach even working with County governments , private entities and CFAs to address the never ending forest amongst many challenges like illegal logging through charcoal burning “. 

Consequently, the CS said they have appreciated the grant from the France government which will go a long way in forest conservation and management for the next five years even as she said there will be a ceremony soon to officially announce the grant. 

She said prevention of forest fires, response mechanisms and education and training of KFS rangers are areas of great importance that will ensure the entire communication infrastructure will operationalize the government’s efforts.

She used the clarion call of “Tufunge Mishipi Tuhifadhi Misitu Yetu” as one way of raising awareness on the forest conservation. The CS said her ministry is looking forward to employing more than 200 forest rangers to boost the work for efficiency purposes. 

Forestry PS Ephantus Kimotho Kimani on his part challenged the Community Forest Associations (CFAs) to update their forest management plan and prepare to enable their head offices to connect them to funding from development partners so that they can be funded for livelihood improved programmes.  

According to Moses Koech, a spokesperson for the Londiani conservancy, there is need for a more positive and supportive response from KFS as officers are aiding illegal loggers in their charcoal burning business. 

Many community members have welcomed the initiative and requested more meetings to tackle fire incidences as well as illegal loggers that are the biggest threats to forest conservation.       

In Kenya, climate-induced deforestation and rangeland degradation are major drivers of biodiversity related complexities that rank high as national priority concerns costing the GDP at least 3 per cent annually and impacting heavily on the quality of livelihoods and the socio-economic fabric.