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