Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Saturday, March 30, re-opened Uhuru Park for public use.
Speaking during the mass registration of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) for private security guards event at the revamped Uhuru Park, Sakaja confirmed that renovations at the heart of the city were complete.
"We shall never forget this day because you are the first Kenyans (Private Security Guards) to access this park during its opening. It is now open to everyone," Governor Sakaja Johnson stated.
Sakaja further confirmed that Kenyans will not be required to pay any entry fee to access the park.
"The Ministry of Defence handed over the park to residents after completing the renovation works.”
The park was closed to the public in 2022 for rehabilitation by the now-defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
"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," read the statement by NMS.
The rehabilitation project, which was overseen by the Ministry of Defence had delayed completion until recently, which saw the park remain closed to the public longer than anticipated until all works were done.
Nairobi County has however been using the park to host some events, including the Nairobi Festival in 2022 and 2023.
The re-opening of Central Park will however take longer, owing to the Contracted works yet to be completed.
Uhuru Park was gazetted and opened to the public by Kenya's first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta on May 23, 1969, in the embodiment of the country's freedom.
It is also the home of the Mau-Mau freedom fighters monument that honours victims of torture during the colonial era.
