Kenya tackles forest fires.

25 Mar, 2009

The government has deployed hundreds of police, soldiers, forest service workers and members of the national youth service to help put out fires affecting key forest areas in central and western Kenya.

Already some 4,651 hectares of forest are believed to have been destroyed in the fires, with losses estimated to be over KSh65 million.

The worst affected areas are in the so-called Mau-complex in the Rift Valley province southwest of Nairobi and Mount Longonot southeast of Lake Naivasha.

Ten people have been arrested on charges of arson in connection with the fires, which have also killed or displaced thousands of animals.