Jan, 22, 2026. In a major step toward addressing recurrent wildfires, Taita Taveta County has unveiled its first Integrated Fire Management Plan (IFMP), a landmark framework designed to curb uncontrolled fires and strengthen coordinated fire management across protected areas, community conservancies, and agricultural landscapes.
Wildfires remain one of the most persistent environmental threats in the county, with an estimated 357 square kilometers burning annually within the Tsavo Conservation Area. The fires affect the national parks, forests, ranches with livestock, conservancies, and key wildlife corridors, causing significant ecological damage, economic losses, and increased human–wildlife conflict.
Despite the high frequency of fires, the county has historically lacked a comprehensive legal, institutional, and operational framework to guide wildfire prevention, preparedness, and response. Fire management efforts have largely been reactive and suppression-focused, an approach that has shown limited effectiveness both in Kenya and globally.
“Dealing with wildfires is very difficult because there is no guidance. Fires are being handled haphazardly,” said Joseph Chomba, a community member from Chyulu.
The Integrated Fire Management Plan has been developed by Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association (TTWCA) in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society, funded by King’s College London. It aligns with national climate change adaptation and environmental protection goals, as well as county priorities outlined in the County Climate Change Action Plan and the Landscape Restoration Implementation Plan (2024–2033).
According to scientists involved in the process, fires in the Tsavo ecosystem are driven by multiple factors, with human activities playing a significant role.
“There is no single cause of wildfires. Most of them start in the Chyulu area and spread to Tsavo East and West,” said Naftal Kariuki, a scientist and lecturer at Garissa University.
One of the biggest challenges has been the lack of common policies. This plan will help address that gap.
The plan provides baseline fire data for the county, outlines historical fire trends, and proposes fire intervention mechanisms, including early warning, coordination, and response strategies. It also promotes the integration of indigenous knowledge and scientific fire management, while identifying priority areas for research and collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and conservation partners.
“For years, we have addressed fire management without a plan, making response difficult and uncoordinated,” said Arch. Martin Tairo, County Executive Committee Member for Public Works, Infrastructure, Housing and Energy.
This plan allows us to plan infrastructure, determine workforce needs, mobilize resources, and strengthen our fire response units.
The IFMP also establishes a Fire Management Committee, aimed at improving coordination among stakeholders and laying the foundation for a stronger county-wide fire management system.
The proper implementation of the plan will benefit both wildlife and communities by reducing wildfire risks, protecting habitats, and safeguarding livelihoods. “Poor coordination and lack of policy have hampered response to wildfires for years,” said Amos Chege, a scientist involved in the plan development.
This framework will help manage fires across protected, unprotected, and agricultural lands, and reduce human–wildlife conflict by ensuring wildlife has safe habitat and reliable food sources.
The plan draws on years of lived experience with the impacts of wildfires across the county.
“Conservancies and communities have faced destructive fires for a long time,” said Peris Mwandembe, Community Liaison Officer at TTWCA.
This plan provides a platform for coordination, prevention, and rapid response when wildfires occur.
The Integrated Fire Management Plan will be reviewed every two years to ensure it remains aligned with emerging science, climate realities, and conservation best practices. Stakeholders acknowledges that its success will depend on sustained collaboration, community involvement, and adequate resourcing, but agrees it marks a critical turning point in wildfire management for Taita Taveta County and the Tsavo Landscape at large.