Chyulu Hills National Park is currently battling a raging wildfire that has left vast tracts of land and vegetation destroyed.

Confirming the incident, Chyulu Senior Warden Peter Njoroge said the fire broke out in the Imbirikani area and quickly spread towards the eastern side of the park.

Teams from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and community scouts are leading efforts to contain the inferno.

Residents living along the park’s boundary have expressed fear for their safety, urging authorities to move swiftly before the fire spreads closer to their homes.

Speaking on the matter, Thange Ward Nyumba Kumi Chair whose ward borders the park in Kibwezi, Makueni County, Muthiani King’oe lamented that such fires are a major setback to ongoing conservation efforts, noting that the park has been central to REDD+ projects that support climate change mitigation and education within the community.

The source of the fire is yet to be established, though suspicions point to human activity, including illegal grazing, poaching and hunting inside the park.

More to follow…