Date Uhuru Park Will Officially Be Reopened: Sakaja Govt

The Nairobi County Government has announced that Uhuru Park will be officially reopened on December 12, 2023, ending a two-year closure for purposes of renovations by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Anastasia Nyalita, County Executive, Inclusivity, Public participation and Customer Service, revealed on Thursday, November 23 that the reopening will take place alongside the 2nd edition of the Nai Fest (Nairobi Festival).

However, Nyalita noted that there will still be some final touches done on the park before it is fully operational, even though it is anticipated to be handed over to the county government.

Inside the refurbished Uhuru Park in Nairobi. /NMS

"This year’s event will mark the official re-opening of Uhuru Park, which has been under renovation for the better part of the year. Except for a few final touches, Uhuru Park is ready for handover to the County Government of Nairobi and ready for Nairobi residents and visitors to the city to enjoy its modern amenities," she stated.

"Uhuru Park will feature several eateries and high-end hotels, while the iconic Mau Mau freedom fighters, The Pope’s and The Peace, Love and Unity monuments have been maintained as well as a more defined Freedom corner in memory of the late Environmentalist the late Prof. Wangari Maathai.”

Meanwhile, in terms of the Nai Fest, the county government announced calls for auditions for Nairobi residents ahead of the event set to run between December 12 and 17.

“This is a chance for Nairobi youth to be selected to take part during the 5-day extravaganza in December.  We are calling upon those who are aged between 18 – 80 years to submit a one-minute clip showcasing their talent by 25th November via WhatsApp to 0777 200 290," Nyalita added.

This year, it is expected that more than 100,000 Nairobi residents will turn up for the duration of the Nairobi Festival at Uhuru Park, which will celebrate the Kenyan capital's diversity and talent, be it in music, cooking, art, or whatever else celebrates the Nairobians' vibrant culture.

The head of the event’s planning committee and renowned producer and the current County Chief Officer, Culture, Arts and Heritage, Clement “Clemo” Sijenyi, promised to deliver an extravaganza that will feature Nairobi’s top DJs, musicians, culinary and visual artists.

“There is a lot of untapped talent in Nairobi’s estates and we hope that everybody who feels they have something unique to offer will send a video of their abilities so we can provide them with a platform to showcase and further their talent during the Nairobi Festival. Even sports men and women are encouraged to send their content. The idea is to celebrate the cultural diversity of Nairobi in all its different forms," indicated Clemo.

Kenyans have been unable to access the park since 2021 following renovations that were being undertaken by the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) in conjunction with the military. However, the Park has been opened temporarily for a number of occasions.