The Kenya
Wildlife Service on Thursday, July 30 warned Kenyans against setting fires
close to national parks and game reserves.
KWS stated
that in most times, the fires end up the national parks affecting wildlife and
habitat.
The
statement comes a week after three sets of fire broke out at the
Tsavo National Park destroying thousands of acres of vegetation.
“Fires that occurred in the Tsavo’s and Chyulu national park
during July 2020 originated from the areas surrounding the parks,” said KWS.
KWS added
that anyone committing the offense is punishable by law and risks paying a
Sh200,000 fine or jail imprisonment of not less than two years.
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Section 102
part 9 (b) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013 states that; “Any
person who sets fire to any vegetation in any wildlife protected area or allows
any fire lighted by himself or his servants to enter a wildlife protected area
commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not less than two
hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment of not less than two years or to both
such fine and imprisonment.”
