Sakaja Explains Why Uhuru Park Was Closed After Nairobi Festival

Nairobi governor, Johnson Sakaja revealed on Tuesday, December 27 that the revamped Uhuru Park was closed after the Nairobi Festival event on Sunday, December 18.

He was responding to Kenyans who had called him out on allegations that the park was littered after the Christmas celebrations on Sunday, December 25.

In a statement, Sakaja clarified that the photos which depicted the state of the park were not captured inside Uhuru Park but the one next to it.

According to the governor, Uhuru Park was closed after the conclusion of the Nairobi Festival event and the live viewing of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final because of pending rehabilitation of works.

Inside the refurbished Uhuru Park in Nairobi. /NMS

"That is not the refurbished park after the festival. That’s Christmas Day adjacent to the park.

"The park was closed after the world cup finals/Nairobi festival and remains closed for the completion of works," he wrote.

Photos of litter in trenches and all over the field went viral online, forcing Kenyans to question the county government regarding the setting up of official garbage disposal bins as well as collection stations to address the littering menace in the park.

Some Kenyans however believed that the littering was caused by those at the park during the celebrations, with one user urging his fellow citizens to change their ways and not rely on the government to clean up their mess all the time.

"Litter left behind by people during the Christmas festivities near Uhuru Park yesterday. Then we start blaming Sakaja. We need to change our behaviour as Kenyans.

"Just because it's the government's duty to collect garbage doesn't mean people should go dropping garbage carelessly," wrote Wachira on Twitter.

Uhuru Park and Central Park were both closed in September 2021 for purposes of rehabilitation, which was commenced by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) so that they can meet international standards.

NMS Director General Mohamed Badi had initially hinted at the park being developed with old materials such as old buses and aircraft to bring a vintage touch to the park for Kenyans. It also comes with a large aircraft that has been converted into a restaurant.

NMS also erected ice cream parlours for children visiting the park, which are made from old buses, among other vintage materials to spice up the look and feel.

An NMS master plan further noted that Uhuru Park will feature a modern garden with waterfronts and the green spaces will be accompanied by a plant nursery, skating park, nature trail, outdoor library, jogging and cycling tracks, maintenance yard, offices and shearer garden.