Police Launch Hunt for Arsonists Who Torched Tsavo West, Kenya's Largest National Park

Police are in pursuit of arsonists behind a fire that destroyed acres of land cover at Tsavo West National Park.

The fire at the country’s largest national park and home to hundreds of animals such as lions, elephants, and buffaloes broke out on Saturday afternoon along the Maktau-Taveta Road and was contained on Monday.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on Monday said it is working closely with law enforcement officers to investigate and arrest those who ignited the fire.

“The fire is suspected to have been lit by arsonists. Police are tracking down these suspected arsonists,” the body said in a statement.

Officers from KWS, Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), National Youth Service (NYS), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and hundreds of local volunteers took part in extinguishing the inferno. The military deployed helicopters to pour water on the fire.

Herders and arsonists have been blamed for the series of fire incidents that have hit the park in the last few months. 

The fire is a big blow to the government’s bid to revive the crucial tourism industry which has lost $1 billion (Sh100 billion) in revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic.