Fire destroys 600 ha of Mau Forest in 20 days

Flames have consumed over 600 hectares of South West Mau Forest in the past three weeks.

People living around the forest at Kiplekwa in Londiani have been battling the fires, which were worsened by the dry weather.

Kericho County Commissioner Lucy Mulili was yesterday shocked at the massive destruction of the “virgin forest”.

Ms Mulili, who was on a fact-finding mission, said some fires were started by illicit brewers who were unhappy with government efforts to stamp out their business in the forest.

The commissioner, who was with the county security team and Ecosystem Conservator Thomas Kiptoo, said police had destroyed 3,900 litres of chang’aa and arrested 57 people.

She praised the Kenya Forest Service and Londiani Forest Association for fighting the fires.
Mr Kiptoo said forest rangers from Baringo, Nakuru and Nairobi helped to put out the fires, which have been eating up huge swathes of the South Western Mau Forest complex for more than 20 days.

Hundreds of volunteers swarmed the forest with water buckets and twigs to assist the forest rangers.
The worst fires are in Londiani Sub-County.

COOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

A group of women equipped with cooking pans, maize flour, milk and sugar has been feeding the volunteers.

The heroic women are members of the Londiani Forest Community Association and they prepare porridge and tea, which they offer to the volunteers for free every day.

The association’s vice-chairperson, Ms Lucy Wangeci, said the women arrive at their temporary camp between six and seven every morning to start preparing the food.

The women cook porridge and prepare tea for the more than 200 volunteers daily.

Mrs Wangeci said they would like to provide more food but do not have the money to do so.

“We have been leaving our children at home to come here and help. We will continue doing so until the flames are subdued,” she said.

Mrs Wangeci said residents were prepared to play their part in the forest’s conservation as they rely on it for firewood and pasture for their livestock.

The women only leave for home late in the evening with the last group of volunteers.

Forest rangers are patrolling at night to ensure that no new fires are started by charcoal merchants.

The chairman of the Londiani Forest Community Association, Mr Alfred arap Soi, said its members would not rest until every flame has been put out.

Mr Soi praised the government for allowing ordinary citizens to be involved in the management of forests.

“This is our forest and we will do everything in our power to protect it,” he said.

The group has 2,500 members

Reported by Nation Online: http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/Fire-destroys-600-ha-of-Mau-Forest-in-20-days/-/1107872/2659538/-/2b00qpz/-/index.html

Seven Wonders in Kenya for any Visiting Safety Officer

 
1. Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya, in Mount Kenya National Park, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, but had a forest reserve and biosphere recognition prior to that. Mount Kenya reaches a peak of 17,057 feet (5,199 m). The mountain also possess holy significance for locals. - See more at: http://sevenwonders.org/seven-wonders-of-kenya#sthash.N2PN0uif.dpuf

Mount Kenya, in Mount Kenya National Park, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, but had a forest reserve and biosphere recognition prior to that. Mount Kenya reaches a peak of 17,057 feet (5,199 m). The mountain also possess holy significance for locals.

2. The Wild Beast Migration

The Wildebeest Migration, is one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World” and also known as The World Cup of Wildlife. If there is a safari you should go on, this has it be it. The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti National Park together form what no other reserve in Africa can! It is incredible, it is magic, it is indescribable and it is WOW!

No where in the world is there a movement of animals as immense as the wildebeest migration, over two million animals migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya during July through to October.

3. The Lake Nakuru Flamingos 

Lake Nakuru is one of the soda lakes of the Kenya Lake System. The Lake’s elevation is at 1,754 meters above sea level and lies to Nakuru’s south side. Nakuru is translated into dust or dusty place. The highlight of the lake is the collection of flamingos that line up to the shore to feed on the algae found around the lake. - See more at: http://sevenwonders.org/seven-wonders-of-kenya#sthash.N2PN0uif.dpuf

 Lake Nakuru is one of the soda lakes of the Kenya Lake System. The Lake’s elevation is at 1,754 meters above sea level and lies to Nakuru’s south side. Nakuru is translated into dust or dusty place. The highlight of the lake is the collection of flamingos that line up to the shore to feed on the algae found around the lake.

4. The Great Rift Valley

It is actually divided into western and eastern parts of the western group of Rift Valley formed mostly by mountains in which the shape is mashing. The Eastern part of the Rift Valley is deep, the deepest in Nairobi, which is the capital city of Kenya. This part of the rift area deep simply because there is no sea, thus the structure of shallow lakes, which contain sale and minerals are high, it becomes the center point of a lot of wild animals.

5. Treetops Hotel

 

Treetops Hotel is a hotel in Abadare National Park in Kenya near the township of Nyeri, 1,966 m (6,450 ft) above sea level on the Abadare Range and in sight of Mount Kenya. First opened in 1932 by Eric Sherbrooke Walker, it was literally built into the tops of the trees of Aberdare National Park as a treehouse, offering the guests a close view of the local wildlife in complete safety. The idea was to provide a machan (hunting platform on a tree during shikar in India) experience in relative safety and comfort. From the original modest two-room tree house, it has grown into 50 rooms. The original structure was burned down by African guerrillas during the 1954 Mau Mau Uprising, but the hotel was rebuilt near the same waterhole and has become fashionable for many of the rich and famous.It includes observation lounges and ground-level photographic hides from which guests can observe the local wildlife which comes to the nearby waterholes.The hotel is known as the location where Princess Elizabeth acceded to the thrones of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms upon the death of her father, King George VI, while she was staying there in 1952.

These last two are for our regional visitors.

6. The University of Nairobi

The University of Nairobi (UoN) is a college research university based in Nairobi. It is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution goes back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: Makerere University in Uganda, the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and the University of Nairobi.

7. Thika - Nairobi Superhighway

Thika Road (commonly known as the Thika Superhighway) is a major road in Kenya linking the city of Nairobi to Thika town.Underpass at the A2, KenyaThe road is a standard eight-lane controlled-access highway; the total cost of the expansion was estimated at Ksh 27 billion (US$ 330,000,000),[1] but was higher due to increasing fuel costs. The highway was completed in February 2012.

Thika road (A2) is part of the major road network in Kenya classified as A. This road links Nairobi to Ethiopia border town of Moyale contrary to the belief by many that it only links Nairobi to Thika.

[Remember: This is a non-ratified list and is as per blogger's opinion]

Seven injured in Fuata Nyayo, Mugoya fires

Seven people were injured in two separate fires in South B and South C, Nairobi on Wednesday afternoon.
A total of six casualties were evacuated from Canaro in Fuata Nyayo, a slum near South B to the Kenyatta National Hospital by the Kenya Red Cross. Another person was evacuated following a fire at a house in Phase 4, Mugoya Estate in South C.
The government's Disaster Operations Centre said both fires have been contained by a team comprising the Red Cross, Nairobi County and National Youth Service. A needs assessment for affected persons  and post-incident evaluation is ongoing.
The incident comes hours after 14 people were treated for minor injuries following fires  at Mukuru Kwa Reuben and Mukuru Kayaba slums  in South B.
Six people were injured in the Mukuru kwa Reuben fire that occurred on Wednesday morning.
Kenya Power said the fire was caused by "enhanced human activities and settlements".
Eight people were evacuated from the fire at Mukuru Kayaba on Tuesday night.
It left 200 families displaced and property of unknown value destroyed.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/article/seven-injured-fuata-nyayo-mugoya-fires#sthash.0cUhcxHc.dpuf

Seven people were injured in two separate fires in South B and South C, Nairobi on Wednesday afternoon.A total of six casualties were evacuated from Canaro in Fuata Nyayo, a slum near South B to the Kenyatta National Hospital by the Kenya Red Cross. Another person was evacuated following a fire at a house in Phase 4, Mugoya Estate in South C.The government's Disaster Operations Centre said both fires have been contained by a team comprising the Red Cross, Nairobi County and National Youth Service. A needs assessment for affected persons  and post-incident evaluation is ongoing.The incident comes hours after 14 people were treated for minor injuries following fires  at Mukuru Kwa Reuben and Mukuru Kayaba slums  in South B.

Six people were injured in the Mukuru kwa Reuben fire that occurred on Wednesday morning.Kenya Power said the fire was caused by "enhanced human activities and settlements".Eight people were evacuated from the fire at Mukuru Kayaba on Tuesday night.It left 200 families displaced and property of unknown value destroyed.