Wildfire destroys more than 200 acres of Kenyan forest

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI

A wildfire late Friday has consumed more than 200 acres of Kenya’s Menengai forest.

Police and firefighters continued to fight the blaze in the country’s famous Rift Valley region that turned toward residences in Milimani estate in Nakuru county.

Kenya Forest Service area boss David Mtoro confirmed rangers were aiding firefighters to control the inferno and said hundreds of indigenous trees had been destroyed.

Clouds of smoke could be seen from miles away rising from the forest that is home to more than 169 species of flowering plants and numerous species of endangered wildlife and birds.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.