Pastoralists in Isiolo have been urged to practice responsible and controlled use of fire when managing grazing areas, following a worrying increase in wildfire incidents across Isiolo and Samburu Counties.
Speaking during the International Day of Forests celebrations at Ntalabany Comprehensive School in Leparua, Isiolo, Ewaso North Regional Forest Conservator, Allan Ongere, highlighted the alarming destruction caused by recent wildfires.
In Samburu County alone, over 500 hectares of land have been ravaged by fire, while in Isiolo’s Merti and Sericho areas, wildfires burned through more than 5,000 hectares of grazing land, with flames lasting more than a week.
Ongere urged community members to avoid leaving fires unattended when burning old grass to promote fresh growth, cautioning that fire, while helpful in land management, can quickly turn destructive—as witnessed in recent incidents.
Addressing concerns over the region’s low forest cover—currently 6.2% in Isiolo and just 1.0% in Marsabit, compared to the global recommendation of at least 10%—Ongere outlined ongoing efforts by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). In partnership with local community-based organizations and NGOs, KFS is working to provide a steady supply of tree seedlings for both public and private planting. The aim is to increase Isiolo’s forest cover to 8% and Marsabit’s to 4% by 2032.
Of the three counties in the Ewaso North region, only Samburu has surpassed the 10% mark, boasting a forest cover of over 20%. Ongere also noted that KFS nurseries currently hold over 800,000 tree seedlings in Samburu, 500,000 in Isiolo, and 300,000 in Marsabit, all of which are intended for planting to further boost forest cover.
