The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced the reopening of Central Park to the public following the completion of renovations at the popular recreational facility, which had remained closed for five years.
According to a statement from the Governor’s office, Central Park was shut down by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) to allow for upgrades aimed at improving its safety, facilities and recreational amenities.
However, the reopening was delayed by disputes surrounding the completion of the project, payments and the official handover of the park to the Nairobi County administration.
Sakaja said Central Park is a public facility that belongs to Nairobi residents and should be accessible to them.
He said the county government is committed to ensuring that public spaces across the city are safe, clean, accessible and properly maintained.
The governor noted that the reopening of Central Park forms part of broader efforts to restore Nairobi’s recreational spaces. He pointed out that Uhuru Park is already open and said work to improve other public spaces would continue.
Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi, Maureen Njeri, described the reopening as an important milestone in the county’s efforts to provide residents with quality green and recreational spaces.
Njeri said the renovated park would once again provide Nairobi residents with access to its greenery, walkways and recreational facilities in a safer and more welcoming environment.
She added that the county’s priority would now be to maintain the facility and ensure that the improvements made during the renovation are preserved.
Njeri also urged Nairobi residents to take responsibility for the park by keeping it clean and protecting its facilities so that future generations can continue benefiting from the public space.
Central Park and Uhuru Park were both closed for major renovations intended to bring the facilities up to modern standards. Their prolonged closure, however, attracted criticism from residents and civil society groups over restricted access to public recreational spaces.
In 2024, Sakaja approved plans to lease sections of public recreational spaces to private investors as part of efforts to develop sustainable ways of maintaining the facilities.
The governor said the approach was necessary as Nairobi’s growing urban needs required new and innovative strategies to manage and preserve its recreational spaces.
