Advertisement
Volcano at Mt Longonot? KWS clarifies
24th January, 2026 10:23 AM
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has refuted claims that there was a volcanic eruption at Mount Longonot while addressing the fire incident.
In a statement on the KWS official X account on Saturday, January 24, 2026, the State Cooperation announced that the fire incident originated from community land and is suspected to be linked to land-clearing activities.
“A wildfire broke out on 21st January 2026, originating from community land and suspected to be linked to land-clearing activities,” KWS stated.
According to KWS, the fire spread into parts of Mt Longonot National Park but was swiftly contained through the joint efforts of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), community guides, and local community members.
“The fire spread into parts of Mt Longonot National Park but was swiftly contained through the joint efforts of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), community guides, and local community members,” KWS added.
According to KWS, the reported fire incident is not volcanic, as speculated by members of the public, nor is it an eruption.
“We wish to inform the public that there is no volcanic activity or eruption associated with the incident,” KWS said.
Past fire incidents
The recent incident comes four years after the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) refuted claims that there was a volcanic eruption at Mt Longonot in 2022.
In a statement at the time, the state corporation clarified media reports of an alleged eruption, saying the images of smoke were a result of a fire outbreak on the southern side of Mt Longonot National Park, which has already been put out.
“There was no volcanic eruption of the mountain as reported in some media platforms. We assure that the park is safe for all visitors,” read a section of the statement.
“A fire outbreak on the southern side of Mt Longonot National Park reported on Thursday, October 27, 2022, has been put out,” KWS said.
An emergency response team dispatched to the area managed to contain and finally extinguish the inferno this morning,” read the statement.
KWS says that the said inferno had ravaged about 40 acres by the time it was put out on Friday morning, even though it did not ascertain the cause of the fire.
“An emergency response team dispatched to the area managed to contain and finally extinguish the inferno this morning. By the time the fire was put out, it had ravaged 40 acres of bushland,” stated KWS.
