Badi Eyes Forest Land for New Nairobi Cemetery

Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) boss Mohammed Badi speaking on the Jeff Koinange Live show on October 28, 2020.
Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) boss Mohammed Badi speaking on the Jeff Koinange Live show on October 28, 2020.
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Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has started negotiations with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) aimed at acquiring the land next to Nairobi’s Lang’ata cemetery to replace the already full cemetery.

NMS Director-General Mohammed Badi said discussions are on-going with the Ministry of Environment to establish if the land can be acquired by the city agency.

He pointed out that the KFS land, which is 67 acres is the most suitable and convenient. 

“The alternative was a bit far away and we found it inconveniencing to have Nairobi residents travel many kilometers to bury their kin,” he said.

A view of Lang'ata cemetery
A view of Lang'ata cemetery
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The NMS boss said that money had already been set aside to buy the land if a deal is agreed upon.  

However, KFS is against cutting down trees which will pose a challenge for NMS as they negotiate to acquire the forest land. 

“They are doing their best and mostly they don’t negotiate when it comes to cutting down trees to create bare land,” said Badi.

However, Badi said that the agency would ensure they plant trees to replace the ones cut down before swapping the land with KFS.

In 2009, when the plans to acquire new cemetery land for Nairobi, the defunct Nairobi City Council lost Ksh283 million in a Mavoko land deal.

The land in question was 48.5 acres and its actual value was Ksh24 million.

People clearing a section of a forest in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
People clearing a section of a forest in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
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