Kangemi cemetery to be turned into a recreational park

Nairobi City county Environment CE Evans Ondieki (front row centre) with Environment students of Technical University of Kenya push a handcart containing garbage at the abandoned Kangemi cemetery. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

NAIROBI COUNTY: The County Government of Nairobi wants to turn the former Kangemi cemetery into a recreational park.

Speaking at the site Nairobi Minister for Environment Mr Evans Ondieki said the area residents will be soon be provided with alternative ways to collect their garbage to avoid them dumping in the cemetery that was discontinued 20 years ago.

"We are soon going to give residents here garbage bags which they will put in waste to be collected and taken to Dandora dumping site as we want to turn this place into a recreational facility for our people," said Ondieki.

He added that the waste generated from the city, if well managed could be used to generate more revenue and spur our economy through manufacture of manure or fertilizer and electricity.

The clean-up exercise was organized by Sifa Cleaning and Bins Services that has been given a tender to clean and beautify.

Other participants in the clean-up were Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), local community based organization's (CBO's), Environment students from Technical University of Kenya and Nairobi county government environment staff.