Nairobi: As Kenya faces a rising threat from wildfires across both protected and unprotected landscapes, researchers and fire management experts are urging a radical shift from reactive to proactive approaches, with indigenous knowledge at the center of the solution. Speaking during a workshop on integrated fire management held in Taita Taveta County, Senior Lecturer and fire modeler, the Department of Geography at King’s College London and member of the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society Dr. James Millington, emphasized that not all fire is bad. Instead, he argued, fire is a natural part of many ecosystems and can be beneficial when properly managed.
According to Kenya News Agency, the workshop, which was the first in a series aimed at developing an integrated fire management plan for the Tsavo landscape, brought together local communities, county officials, and NGOs. Its goal was to reframe how fire is perceived and managed by shifting away from outright suppression to a more balanced approach that distinguishes between harmful wildfires and beneficial, controlled burns.
Millington noted that years of fire suppression have ironically increased the risk of uncontrollable blazes. He said, ‘When vegetation is left to build up, a single spark can lead to a massive, destructive fire. Controlled burns can reduce this risk.’ The researcher cited northern Australia as a model where indigenous knowledge is now being reintegrated into fire management. There, cultural burning, which is the practice of setting low-intensity fires in a controlled manner, has helped reduce large-scale wildfires while maintaining biodiversity and supporting traditional ways of life.
A resident of Taita Taveta County and participant at the workshop, Philip Mwang’ombe, echoed this sentiment by highlighting the traditional understanding and practices that local communities have used for decades to deal with wildfires. ‘Most fire outbreaks here occur when people cut down trees to burn charcoal or when farmers burn their land and the fire spreads into wildlife areas. Sometimes, wildfires are even caused by electrical faults when large birds land on power lines and cause sparks,’ Mwang’ombe explained.
He emphasized that the intensity of wildfires is highly dependent on the amount of vegetation cover, noting that the more grass and bush present, the more intense the fire. However, he also pointed out that fire has both benefits and risks. ‘Fire kills pathogens that affect livestock and also helps clear invasive vegetation that prevents the growth of beneficial grasses for wild animals,’ he said, adding that, ‘We have now come to understand that fire is not always bad; it depends on how it is managed.’
Mwang’ombe detailed community strategies for controlling fire, including the use of flappers, firebreaks cut using tractors, and back-burning, which involves intentionally setting a controlled fire ahead of a wildfire to stop its spread. He stressed that for indigenous fire knowledge to be truly effective, local communities must be involved in decision-making, especially those who are directly affected by the fires.
Tabitha Mnjala, a resident of Kasigau and a warden at Kasigau Wildlife Conservancy, supported the idea of controlled burning. She said such practices help kill ticks and other harmful insects in the grasslands, threats that often go unnoticed until wild animals start dying. ‘We see it happen during our daily patrols. If not controlled, these insects can seriously impact wildlife populations. Controlled fires help not only regenerate vegetation but also safeguard the health of animals in the conservancies and nearby ranches,’ Mnjala explained.
A Kenyan PhD research student also based at King’s College London, Chege Amos, is leading a study on wildfires across Kenya’s protected and unprotected areas. His project seeks to document historical trends of wildfires and incorporate indigenous knowledge into national fire management frameworks. Chege emphasized that fire, from an ecological and social perspective, holds significant benefits right from controlling pests and improving soil quality to regenerating fresh vegetation for grazing.
A key outcome of the workshop is the push for the development and adoption of Integrated Fire Management (IFM) plans. These plans combine scientific approaches with indigenous knowledge and cultural practices to create sustainable, inclusive strategies for managing fire. Chege called for revisions to Kenya’s fire-related legislation, noting that current laws lack clarity and fail to address the complexities of fire use in conservancies, ranches, and community lands outside national parks.
Both Chege and Millington emphasized the importance of inclusive stakeholder involvement in developing fire management policies. From ranchers and farmers to county and national government officials, they called for a collaborative approach to tackle the growing threat of wildfires. ‘This is a process. This first workshop is just the beginning. We plan to continue engaging with communities and stakeholders through future sessions and, by the end of the year, develop a draft plan that supports both human livelihoods and wildlife conservation,’ said Chege.
The Tsavo landscape, which includes large conservation areas and adjacent pastoral and agricultural lands, has witnessed fire incidents over the years. The adoption of a well-planned, inclusive fire management strategy could not only safeguard biodiversity but also enhance climate resilience and reduce the economic burden of wildfire responses.