Fast-spreading fire is still raging at the Aberdare National Park with more than 40,000 acres destroyed so far.
The wildfires were reported on Monday, February 6, in the Aberdare moorlands and are yet to be contained.
The Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) assistant director of Mountain Conservation Bakari Mungumi has said more than 200 personnel have been deployed to contain it.
On Monday, KWS acting director general Erustus Kanga said two rangers died during the firefighting operations.
"The fires have worsened as a result of the prevailing drought and high-altitude winds, which have desiccated the Moorland. The DG expressed his condolences to the Park as they lost two of their staff during the firefighting operations," KWS said in a statement.
Charitable trust Rhino Ark has been working alongside the rangers, supporting them with firefighting tools.
On February 9, Rhino Ark announced that two fire lines of 6.5km and four kilometres were moving fast to the north and the south of the moorland, respectively.
In the first 24 hours after it was first reported, the Arbedares Forest fire destroyed some 8,500 acres of moorland vegetation.
On February 10, the Rhino Ark said the Aberdares, South Western Mau forest and Eburru Forest were currently facing devastating wildfires.
By February 11, Rhino Ark said the fire had erupted at Nyatoru Valley heading towards the fence and rangers and the community were trying to control it under the rough terrain around the Kahuho area.
On Saturday, February 11, the fire in the northern moorlands of Aberdare was said to be spreading, with two fire lines moving in opposite directions.
Speaking on Monday, Kanga commended the community and Rhino Ark, for joining in the firefighting exercise.
On Wednesday, Kanga said the state was doing our best to manage the situation with the little resources available.
"We are working with partners such as KFS, National Youth Service and County government to provide the necessary support," Kanga said.
He said they suspected arson in the wildfires.
On Thursday, ranger teams including the KWS, Kenya Forest Service, Rhino Ark, AJSU, and the National Youth Service were focusing on wildfires in the central moorlands above Wandare.
The Aberdare Forest is not new to fires. In early February 2022, more than 550 hectares of the forest were destroyed by a fire that started on the night of February 5.
The fire raged for two days before it was extinguished.
