2021 Lolldaiga conservancy wildfire

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The 2021 Lolldaiga conservancy wildfire was a man made disaster caused by soldiers of the British Army who set fire to a nature reserve in central Kenya during a military training exercise. [1] [2]

The fire destroyed 12,000 acres of land belonging to the Lolldaiga conservancy, which was home to lions, hyenas, elephants, jackals, and the rare endangered Grévy's zebra. [1]

One man, Linus Murangiri, was crushed to death by a vehicle during attempts to put out the fires. [1] There were also reports of elderly people suffering eye injuries and a baby being hospitalised for smoke inhalation. [1]

During a court hearing into the incident, some of the soldiers who started the fire were alleged to have been high on cocaine. [3] After the fire, British soldiers made jokes about the incident. [4] According to the BBC one soldier wrote: "

Two months in Kenya later and we've only got eight days left. Been good, caused a fire, killed an elephant and feel terrible about it but hey-ho, when in Rome." [1]

According to the BBC, the incident led to an environmental lawsuit signed by almost 1,000 local residents. [1] In 2022 the Kenya News Agency reported that 6,000 local residents had filed for compensation from the British Army. [5]

In 2025, the UK government agreed to pay compensation to 7,723 claimants affected by the wildfire. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kenyans sue the British army over fire at wildlife sanctuary". BBC News. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  2. ↑ "Fire breaks out in Kenya during British military exercise". Reuters. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  3. ↑ Reporters, Telegraph (2022-04-13). "British soldiers 'started bushfire at Kenya wildlife reserve while high on cocaine'". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  4. ↑ NTV Kenya (2023-07-23). BATUK soldier took to social media to mock the fire incident where Linus Murangiri died . Retrieved 2024-09-13– via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "Loldaiga fire victims seek compensation from British Army – Kenya News Agency". 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  6. ↑ "UK agrees to pay Kenyans affected by military fire". BBC . 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.


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