This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
On July 14, 2020, Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko revealed that former Cabinet minister Francis Lotodo irregularly degazetted part of Ngong Forest, paving the way for grabbing by private investors.
Tobiko made the revelation as he appeared to soften his position on plans to demolish the multi-billion investments in Nairobi’s Langata area, adding that the ministry was ready to engage the at least 20,000 affected families to resolve the dispute.
According to Tobiko, Bahati MP Onesmus Ngunjiri was among the beneficiaries of the illegal acquisition of the 53.6 hectares of forest land.
Lotodo had informed the members of the government decision to degazette the parcel for social amenity use in 1998, as recorded in the House’s Hansard report of April 28, 1998.
However, Tobiko told the Kareke Mbiuki-led team that the process was irregular as titles had been issued to private investors way before the gazette notice.
He maintained that any protected forest can only be gazetted for public use but not for private investments.
Langata Women’s Prison land, which was originally 34 acres and was reserved for Nairobi Prison, was illegally and fraudulently allocated to three entities, including Arldyks Investment Ltd, Prilscot Company Ltd, and Ngunjiri (Bahati MP).
The three beneficiaries subsequently subdivided the parcel and sold them out to third parties, giving rise to KMA, Sunvalley 1, Langata Gardens, Langata View, and Shallom Estates.
Similarly, the estate commonly known as Forest Edge/View Estate lying between the Dog Section and the Southern Bypass was illegally and fraudulently established within the un-degazetted portion of Ngong Road Forest Reserve.
