Isiolo Residents Decry Govt’s Inaction 72 Hours After Wildfires Destroy Grazing Fields Over 10KM

A section of elders and human rights activists in Isiolo County have appealed to the government to expedite efforts to put out a fire that broke out three days ago.

The fire which started in Merti Sub County has since razed down more than ten kilometres square of grazing fields in the region.

Led by Mohamed Konso, Chairperson of the Borana Council of Elders, local leaders have expressed concerns over the devastating impact of a raging fire, warning of massive livestock deaths and the destruction of homesteads and local institutions if it is not contained swiftly.

The inferno, which began in Merti, is consuming vital grazing areas for herders in Matarba, Korbesa, and Malkagalla, and is now spreading toward Iresaboru, Badana, and Sericho.

There are growing fears that the rapidly spreading fire could soon reach residential areas, threatening to destroy homes and community infrastructure.

Konso lamented that despite the fire burning for over 72 hours, no action has been taken by the government.

He urged both the national and county governments to treat the disaster as an emergency and act quickly to contain it before it escalates further.

He said that the cause of the fire is yet to be established, but they believe it was accidental.

Abdullahi Hajj Gonjobe, a Borana elder, pointed out that herders often prepare meals in the bushes and may have inadvertently left a fire unattended, which could have contributed to the blaze. He also noted that local herders harvest wild honey in the same areas, suggesting that this could be another potential cause of the fire.

The elders warned that the fire has already consumed vast amounts of pasture resources that could have supported both livestock and wildlife for another two years.

They emphasized that the long-term impact of this disaster will severely affect the livelihoods of the local community in the near future.

They stated that local residents have made every effort to extinguish the inferno, but their attempts have been in vain due to a lack of proper equipment.

They urgently appealed to the government to act swiftly and deploy an aircraft to expedite the process of extinguishing the fire before it caused further destruction.