Homa Bay County Ecosystem Conservator (CEC) David Muigai has raised an alert to the local communities to take measures to prevent forest fires following the prevailing dry spell in the region.
He said the current weather conditions had resulted in the fast drying of vegetation thus increasing fire dangers.
Muigai expressed concern that some residents were lighting unnecessary fires in the county increasing the risks of fires during the prevailing dry spell.
“Some areas which are under gazettement in Homa Bay County have recorded many cases of forest fires due to charcoal burning,” noted Muigai.
He said the areas have experienced 3 fires already, one in Gembe forest where 9 acres of forest land vegetation was burned out and 2 fires in Lambwe forest from Suba North and part of Ruma Park.
The conservator added that the main agenda should be on how to take good care of the existing forests to achieve the recommended forest cover.
“We are calling upon every resident in this county to plant trees. It is a strategy of fighting poverty if we can be able to increase our tree cover significantly,” he said.
Muigai requested people to start preparing to plant the 2.2 million seedlings available at the forest department, ready for distribution.
By Violet Atieno and Langat Davis
