Goats and Camel Perish as Flames Scorch 56km of Vital Grazing Land
North Horr, Marsabit County| A ferocious wildfire that erupted three days ago in Turbi Ward, North Horr Constituency, continues to burn uncontrollably across the arid plains of Marsabit County, destroying critical pastureland and claiming the lives of livestock in one of Kenya’s most drought-prone regions.
The blaze, which authorities believe was accidentally started by herders who left an unattended cooking fire, has already scorched an estimated 56-kilometre stretch of rangeland in the areas of Horonder, Tigo, and Kambi Nyoka, as well as the expansive Diid Galgallu plains.
Strong winds and bone-dry vegetation have turned what began as a small flame into a fast-moving inferno that residents and local leaders are struggling to contain.
Livestock Losses Mount Amid Desperate Fight Against Flames
Turbi Location Chief Abdub Sora confirmed that three goats and one young camel have perished since the fire broke out, marking the first reported livestock deaths.
In a region where pastoralism is the primary source of livelihood, the loss of even a single animal can push families deeper into poverty.
“People are doing everything they can with branches and whatever little water is available, but the wind is too strong and the grass too dry,” Chief Sora told journalists at the scene. “This fire is moving faster than we can control.”
Communities have mobilised to beat back the flames using traditional methods—tree branches, sand, and limited water supplies—but the sheer scale and intensity of the wildfire have overwhelmed local efforts.
A Perfect Storm: Wind, Drought and Dry Vegetation Fuel the Blaze
Marsabit County is no stranger to prolonged dry spells, but the current combination of factors has created ideal conditions for catastrophic wildfires.
Persistent drought has left grass and shrubs extremely dry, while strong seasonal winds continue to fan the flames across the vast open plains.
The area’s sparse population and limited road access further hinder any rapid response, allowing the fire to spread unchecked for days.
Eyewitnesses describe walls of flame racing across the Diid Galgallu rangelands, leaving behind blackened earth where lush grazing fields once stood. Smoke plumes are visible from miles away, blanketing the horizon in an ominous haze.
Threat to Livelihoods and Food Security in an Already Fragile Region
For the predominantly Borana, Gabra, and Rendille pastoralist communities in Turbi Ward, the destruction of pasture poses an existential threat.
The affected areas are crucial dry-season grazing reserves that families depend on when other water points and pastures dry up.
“The grass that is burning now was what we were keeping for the animals when the drought gets worse,” lamented Halima Guyo, a herder from Kambi Nyoka. “If this continues, many families will lose everything.”
Displaced households have begun moving livestock to safer areas, but with pasture already scarce due to the ongoing drought, competition for the remaining grazing land is expected to intensify.
Urgent Calls for Outside Help
Local leaders and residents are appealing for immediate assistance from both the Marsabit County Government and national disaster response agencies.
They desperately need aerial firefighting support or water-bombing aircraft, ground teams equipped with proper fire-fighting tools, emergency fodder supplies for affected livestock, and food relief for displaced families.
As of now, no official firefighting units have been deployed to the remote area, highlighting the logistical challenges of responding to disasters in Kenya’s vast northern frontier.
Climate Change in Focus as Wildfires Become the New Normal
Environmental experts warn that wildfires of this magnitude could become more frequent in northern Kenya as climate change exacerbates drought cycles and extreme weather events.
The increasing unpredictability of rainfall, coupled with higher temperatures, is turning once-resilient rangelands into tinderboxes.
The Turbi Ward wildfire serves as a stark reminder of the growing climate-related risks facing pastoralist communities across the Horn of Africa.
As the blaze enters its fourth day, residents of North Horr remain on high alert, praying for a shift in the wind or the arrival of help before more lives—both human and animal—are lost to the relentless flames sweeping across Marsabit’s fragile plains.
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