Isiolo fire contained as state issues stern warning to locals

The inferno that swept through parts of two sub-counties in Isiolo County has been contained, with the government issuing a stern warning to locals against the reckless lighting of fires.

The Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, stated that the fierce fire, which began on January 17, had affected approximately 2,500 hectares of forest.

Speaking in Sericho on Sunday, where he and his counterpart from the Forestry Ministry, Gitonga Mugambi, led a high-level government team to assess and monitor the situation, Omollo noted that the raging inferno had primarily destroyed animal pasture in Cherab and Garbatulla subcounties.

Omollo reported that emergency teams had been dispatched to the two vast areas immediately after the fires broke out in the southern part of Ewaso Nyiro, spreading from Guthuba and Biliqi towards Dadacha Basa and Sericho areas.

“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.

He identified the most affected areas as Sericho, Bandana, Dadacha Basa, Eleturku, and Merti, about 300 kilometres from Isiolo town.

“The good news is that no human life was lost in the fires,” he said, emphasizing that the affected areas were vast and sparsely populated. 

Omollo noted that investigations were underway into claims that the fires may have been started by herders attempting to clear pathways for their animals or scare away ticks and tsetse flies.

Other claims that honey harvesters may have caused the fires were also being probed.

He warned against lighting fires during dry and windy seasons, as they could easily get out of control and destroy large sections of pastureland.

He further cautioned that action would be taken against anyone found responsible for reckless fire lighting.

The PS announced that the government would support livestock farmers who lost animals during the dry season by helping them restock.

Additionally, locals would be assisted in acquiring pasture for their animals.

Omollo expressed gratitude to the teams that battled the fire, including National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), Kenya Forest Service officers, Kenya Wildlife Service personnel, local community members, the Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT), and the Kenya Red Cross.

More than 120 rangers and 40 firefighting specialists, supported by aerial surveillance, were deployed in the operation.

Equipment such as Chap-Track machines for creating firebreaks, firefighting engines, and 10,000-liter water bowsers were also used. 

Omollo reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting pastoralists in improving livestock products as part of an elaborate scheme to enhance the entire livestock value chain.

Forestry PS Gitonga Mugambi also thanked the firefighting teams for their efforts in containing the fires.

He urged the local community to avoid lighting fires during dry and windy seasons, attributing the increased incidents partly to climate change.

“I encourage everyone to plant trees when the rains come to help combat 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.

Also present at the event were the Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, and Isiolo County Commissioner, Geoffrey Omoding.