President Uhuru Kenyatta officially launched the newly refurbished Uhuru Gardens as a national monument on Monday, July 25. The monument will host among others, public galleries and a military museum.
The garden had for years been encroached by idlers who turned it into a drug den. This is despite the immense significance the monument has in Kenya's history.
The grounds witnessed a euphoric moment when the Union Jack was lowered and the Kenyan flag hoisted as Kenyans looked on during the declaration of the country's independence on December 12, 1963.
Fireworks rend the air as a jubilant Kenyan crowd watched under the moonlight as a Mugumo (fig) tree was planted in place of the Union Jack, the United Kingdom’s flag.
In 1973, a monument was erected to commemorate the historic day in Kenya’s politics. The monument, 24 meters high, had statues of key freedom fighters in the struggle for Kenya’s independence.
Kenya recreated the Jamhuri Day celebrations at the Uhuru Gardens in December 2013 during Kenya at 50 celebrations that were led by Uhuru.
Fireworks were displayed in the historic gardens in what was seen as a nostalgic reminder of the 1963 fete.
President Uhuru’s government undertook the rehabilitation process in 2020 with the Head of State envisaging a museum with various aspects of Kenyan culture and history under the unitary premises. Kenya Defence Forces were tasked with the mandate of redeveloping the gardens, a process that took two years.
The refurbishment has transformed the monument, making it one of the most iconic museums in the country. The monument has a public arena with a capacity to host over 40,000 people. It also hosts a museum with over 16 galleries and is packed with memorabilia and artifacts depicting Kenya's history.
Part of the history captured by the artifacts is Kenya's military heritage where information about the country's past military activities is showcased. The museum also archives profiles of former Heads of State, Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Arap Moi.
The museum is projected to receive over 2,000 visitors, with activities to complete the construction of the remaining galleries in progress. The Lang'ata Road-based museum will be opened to the public later in the year.
