Nairobians and anyone visiting Uhuru Park will only need an identification card to access renovated Uhuru Park which was recently opened.
This is for security reasons and identification of persons visiting the park as revealed by Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja.
The governor said that even though there were proposals to charge entrance fees to the park, the county relooked into the issue and decided not to charge.
“Uhuru Park’s renovation is complete and will be available to the public free of charge. Earlier, there were proposals to charge Nairobians to use Uhuru Park. Remembering the number of times that jobless people would go there at lunchtime to eat an air burger as you listen to a pastor, lie on the grass as you think about your problems, would not allow me to charge a shilling on Kenyans who want to use Uhuru Park.” Sakaja said today afternoon during his address to the Nairobi County Assembly.
He called upon Nairobians to use the facility with due care for everyone to enjoy while visiting it adding that they are planing to create more recreational facilities in the county.
Uhuru park was closed for renovations during the tenure of NMS by the Kenya Defence forces and was opened last week by Sakaja.
However, the public will will be required to pay an entry fee at Central Park due to the structures and facilities put in place
Central Park which was also under renovation is yet to be opened and Sakaja promised that the renovation will soon be concluded and it will be open to the public.
Uhuru Park was closed to the public in 2022 for rehabilitation by the now-defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
The renovation was spearheaded by the Ministry of Defence.
While the renovations were ongoing, the county has occasionally used the park to host some events, including the Nairobi Festival in 2022 and 2023.
Uhuru Park before the renovations was also a hot spot for political rallies in Kenya.
The park is synonymous with hosting huge political rallies in the lead-up to general elections.
However, with the new renovations, the green spaces will play an important role in environmental pollution management, the nation’s socioeconomic development, and citizens’ physical well-being.
Uhuru Park boasts of manicured lawns, maintained trees, enhanced walkways and green spaces.
There will also be an outdoor Amphitheatre with an audiovisual screen, an events garden in the shape of Nyatiti, and a children’s play area with bouncing castles and merry-go-rounds.
The iconic Nyayo statue and Mau Mau freedom fighters’ monuments have been updated as well.
The man-made lake has been transformed into a major waterfront, complete with a Swahili restaurant.
