Why do some East African mountains near the Equator have ice and glaciers?

Some East African mountains near the Equator, such as Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and the Ruwenzori Range, feature ice and glaciers because of their extreme elevation.12

While these regions are located at or near the Equator, the high altitudes of these mountain summits place them within a frigid zone where temperatures are low enough to support the existence of ice. These relict glaciers are found in the summit zones, with ice reaching down to approximately 14,000 to 16,000 feet depending on the specific mountain.321

It is important to note that these glaciers have been undergoing a process of rapid retreat throughout the 20th century. While they were once much more extensive—extending down to altitudes between 10,000 and 12,000 feet—the remaining ice covers a significantly smaller surface area today.1