Lenana School among institutions illegally allocated Ngong forest land

The Kenya Forestry Service officers.Photo/FILE
The Kenya Forestry Service officers.Photo/FILE

The KFS plans to repossess the grabbed Ngong Forest land and stop encroachment.

Ngong forest is infamous for the mugging, carjacking and murder stories associated with it. The remarkable water tower, however, plays a unique role in Kenya’s well-being. Its protection is crucial.

It has been left in ruins and could soon disappear if the Environment ministry does not intensify the war on landgrabbing.

Illegal allocations threaten its existence. The forest is only six kilometres from Nairobi’s CBD.

More than half of its gazetted parcel have been been eaten into. The government has lost about 1,951 acres, leaving only 1,330.

KFS acting chief conservator Monica Kalenda yesterday said they are working with the National Land Commission to have the titles revoked and the parcels reverted.

“We’re at an advanced stage following up on revocation of the titles in Marmanet and Rumuruti, and all over the country where we have forests that have been illegally grabbed,” she said.

The Star is in possession of a brief that lists allocations to private and public institutions. They have ruined the forest.

Ngong was gazetted as a reserve through a proclamation in 1932. It was under 7,232 acres. In 1964, it was declared a central forest under a legal notice. Over the years, some parts were allocated. By 1978, the forest had only 3,282 acres.

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The beneficiaries include Lenana School, Extelcoms, St Francis Anglican Church, PCEA Mugumoini Church and Langata Cemetry. Others are The War Cemetry, Kenya Science Teachers College, Meteorological Department and the ASK Showground.

In 1996, a title deed for the remaining parcel was issued to the Treasury PS. He was to hold it on behalf of the Environment PS. This excluded 840 acres.

In 1999, the title was surrendered to the commissioner of lands and a leasehold title deed for 1,330 acres issued to Treasury PS to keep for the Ngong Road Sanctuary. This left out 1,111.95 acres from the title issued in 1996.

In total, 1,951 acres are no longer within the boundaries of the gazetted Ngong Road Forest. The land excluded was illegally allocated to private developers. Some have been transferred to private companies.

The commissioner of lands allocated some 15 acres to a private developer, but the National Social Security Fund currently stakes ownership.

Another 18 acres were allocated for extension of ASK showground (Jamhuri Park). Objections were raised. Another 44 acres allocated to the ASK by the commissioner of lands were not authorised by the Forest department.

Another private developer got 22 acres to build a motel, petrol station and a supermarket.

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation also got 100 acres for their headquarters. Objections were raised and the area is still intact.

One private developer got 15 acres and later transferred it to Winners’ Chapel. A portion of the parcel is developed, but a title deed for some section was surrendered.

Two residential flats were built on 13 acres. Further development has been stopped.

Some 21 acres were allocated for expansion of the Langata Women’s Prison. A big portion of this plot was later allocated to private developers. They built residential houses.

A hospital and a residential complex owned by Kenya Medical Resuscitation Centre have been built another 37 acres. The area also has residential houses owned by individuals. It is still part of the gazetted forest.

Bomas of Kenya’s 80 acres are also part of the gazetted forest. Kenya Pipeline Corporation bought 138 acres. Other allocations are 40 acres and 15 acres to Amusement Park Ltd.

The Ndungu land report pointed out additional illegal titles.

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