Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, on Tuesday, August 8, revealed that Uhuru and Central Parks will be opened this month.
Addressing the closure of the two recreation parks, the governor indicated that the optimal timeframe for reopening the two recreation parks would be towards the end of August.
He acknowledged the concerns of residents regarding the prolonged closure of the parks, which have remained inaccessible for more than a year.
The refurbished Uhuru Park was only temporarily opened for a few days when the county held the inaugural Nairobi Festival from December 12 - 26, 2022.
After the festival, contractors returned to the site and completed the finishing touches on the project initiated by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
"Uhuru Park was only open for five days during the Nairobi Festival. Works are yet to be concluded before the official opening and commissioning," Sakaja explained in his response to queries posted on his social media pages.
Initially, the park was to be opened by former President Uhuru Kenyatta on September 12, three days before he handed over power to President William Ruto. However, unfavourable weather conditions led to the postponement of the event.
Inside New Park
Among the park's new features is the addition of designated walking lanes strategically designed to prevent damage to the newly planted grass within the park.
Additionally, the park boasts skating lanes to promote sports engagement among city residents, aligning with the park's original opening date of May 23, 1969.
The park is further adorned with intricately carved animal sculptures as the county seeks to promote culture and heritage.
Construction of a playground, jogging tracks, botanical trails, a gym, and an outdoor library were also incorporated into the refurbished park.
"The revamped green spaces will play a critical role in environmental pollution management, social-economic development of the nation as well as the physical well-being of citizens," the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Society (NMS) stated.
