Court orders Sakaja to immediately reopen Central Park
The lobby group argued that the closure of Central Park and the intermittent opening and closing of Uhuru Park infringed on the rights of Nairobi residents to access green spaces.
Nairobi’s Central Park, which has been closed for nearly three years, is set to reopen following a court ruling on Monday.
Environment and Land Court Judge Anne Omollo issued temporary orders compelling the Nairobi County government to allow public access to the park. The decision came after the Green Belt Movement (GBM) filed a legal challenge against the prolonged closure.
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“I cannot comprehend why the park remains closed, particularly during this festive season,” said Judge Omollo in her ruling, emphasising the urgency of reopening the space.
The GBM, a renowned environmental advocacy group, moved to court citing the violation of constitutional rights. The lobby group argued that the closure of Central Park and the intermittent opening and closing of Uhuru Park infringed on the rights of Nairobi residents to access green spaces.
“City residents are left with no choice but to resort to unsafe areas like road intersections for relaxation,” said Nyaguthie Chege, Chairperson of GBM. “This lack of accessible green spaces degrades the dignity of individuals while the county government fails in its duty to maintain and provide such spaces.”
The organisation expressed concern over the ongoing “concretisation” of Central Park, stating that there were no visible signs of the park reopening.
“Notwithstanding the grave impact of these closures, we are appraising the court for finding that Central Park remains inaccessible, with no clarity on the county government’s intentions,” added Chege.
GBM also emphasised that Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has not fulfilled his multiple commitments to reopen the park. The lobby accused the county government of failing to provide information about the closure, a violation of Article 35 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to access information.
The matter will remain under the court's directive until the full hearing on February 17, 2025. In the interim, Judge Omollo emphasised the need for transparency and accountability from the county government regarding public spaces.
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