Ogiek community in Eburu area of Naivasha has called on the government to support their effort to rehabilitate Mau forest.
This follows frequent forest fires in the area which they claim to be thwarting their efforts to rehabilitate the forest.
Ogiek Community chairman Joseph Towett said that some of the trees and grasses they had planted has been destroyed by the fire.
He called on the Kenya Forest Services to improve on their fire fighting equipment, citing that they had often been forced to improvise materials to fight the raging fires.
“We often use tree branches to fight the fire and they have not been effective since in some cases they also caught the flames. Accessing water in this area is also a challenge, hence not being in a position to do much,” notes Towett.
Joseph Mutongu of Rhino Ark foundation, who spearheaded the campaign to rehabilitate Mau forest, appealed to the residents to be careful while lighting bush fires.
“We are appealing to residents to avoid lighting unnecessary fires especially during dry season because this will cost us a lot,” said Mutongu.
Mutongu added that during dry season fire spread quickly hence causing a major destruction.