Editor's Review

  • The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) recently appealed for support to contain wildfires destroying protected forests.

ODM leader Raila Odnga has revealed his four-point plan to help stop the recently experienced forest fires in the country.

In the plan, the ODM leader said he worked closely with former President Mwai Kibaki to to help fence the Aberdares National Park as part of efforts to conserve the forest.

He noted that conservationists are now worried, and Kenyans should be worried of the forest fires which have destroyed thousands of acres of forest.

"Forest fires have in the past few days destroyed 16,000 acres of moorland in Mt Kenya," Raila said.

The former Prime Minister said he would; Establish a fully equipped and resourced Rapid National Forest Fire Agency to combat fires by employing new methods such as; Tactical air attack planes to coordinate aerial firefighting using suppression chemicals and smokejumpers.

He would also push for the enactment of a fire prevention and control act, as well as promote the planting of fire-resistant plants and trees around areas in the forest that are prone to fires.

Raila said he would also encourage the Kenya Forest Service to train members of the community through the existing forest associations to help in surveillance across major forests.

He insisted that during his time as PM, they worked to conserve the Mau Forest and the Aberdares needs as much attention.

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) recently appealed for support to contain wildfires destroying protected forests.

KFS board chairman Peter Kinyua raised his concerns over the wildfires, saying they needed support.

"Our biggest challenge is the fire that we have today in Mount Kenya, Aberdares and Kirisia," he said.

In February, a new report warned that wildfires are set to become more intense and frequent, ravaging communities and ecosystems in their path.

The report by the Unep and GRID-Arendal said climate change and land-use change could lead to a sharp rise of fires by up to 50 per cent by the next century.