The government, through the Ministry of Interior, has urged Isiolo residents affected by the wildfire to remain cautious despite its intervention.
In a statement on Monday, January 20, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen urged residents to stay vigilant as efforts to fully extinguish the remaining fire continued.
While making the announcement, Murkomen revealed that the fire, which has affected an estimated 300,000 acres, posed a significant challenge due to strong winds and hot weather conditions in the area.
He reported that a multi-agency team comprising the National Police Service (NPS), the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Red Cross, and the County Government of Isiolo was already on the scene and had contained the fire to prevent further destruction.
According to him, despite the fire affecting vast tracts of grazing land, no casualties were reported, and no damage had occurred to human settlements, livestock, or wildlife.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen during an Interdenominational Prayer Service at the National Police College Embakasi “A” campus on January 12, 2025.
APS
“Small pockets of fire remain in Sericho and Malkagada, where teams are still working to put them out. Residents are advised to remain cautious as ongoing efforts to fully extinguish the remaining fires continue,” the CS stated.
“Isiolo county remains largely calm, except for a bushfire that has been consuming vast pasture land in Garbatulla and Cherab Sub-Counties,” Murkomen added.
The ministry’s response followed an appeal by area residents calling for the intervention of both the county and the national government to help stop the fire which began on Friday, January 17.
Led by Borana Head of Council of Elders, Mohamed Konso, the residents expressed fear that the wildfire could lead to massive property destruction and livestock deaths.
Konso revealed that despite calls for government intervention, they were yet to receive help despite informing local authorities about the incident 72 hours after it began.
The head of the council of elders further disclosed that as of Sunday, January 19, the inferno had affected grazing land adequate to feed their cattle for the next two years.
According to reports, the fire began in the Merti area before spreading to other grazing fields including Martaba, Korbesa and Malkagala. Reports further indicated that the fire also affected Iresaboru, Badana and Sericho areas.
An image of Isiolo wildfires. PHOTO/ Courtesy.