The Kenyan government has unveiled a Ksh2.8 billion forest firefighting initiative in response to the recent surge in wildfires.

The project, partly funded by France, aims to equip the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) with advanced firefighting and monitoring tools.

The new equipment includes high-tech fire trucks, drones, and a control hub to help protect key forests like the Mau, Aberdares, and Mt. Kenya.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale emphasized that this initiative strengthens KFS’s capacity to combat fires across 14 counties, aligning with Kenya’s goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

“Kenya faces escalating climate change impacts; prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures heightening forest fire risks. These fires threaten biodiversity, human lives, and livelihoods, making proactive management essential,” he said.

The project also includes specialized training for response teams and the deployment of satellite towers fitted with cameras for early fire detection.