Lighting fire near National parks and reserves could land you in jail, KWS warns

The Kenya Wildlife Service on Thursday, July 30 warned Kenyans against setting fires close to national parks and game reserves.

KWS stated that in most times, the fires end up the national parks affecting wildlife and habitat.

The statement comes a week after three sets of fire broke out at the Tsavo National Park destroying thousands of acres of vegetation.

“Fires that occurred in the Tsavo’s and Chyulu national park during July 2020 originated from the areas surrounding the parks,” said KWS.

KWS added that anyone committing the offense is punishable by law and risks paying a Sh200,000 fine or jail imprisonment of not less than two years.

Section 102 part 9 (b) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013 states that; “Any person who sets fire to any vegetation in any wildlife protected area or allows any fire lighted by himself or his servants to enter a wildlife protected area commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not less than two hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment of not less than two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.”

<iframe width="714" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_0HLYuStecc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>