City Affairs

Wangari Maathai lobby vows to fight Sakaja’s Uhuru Park leasing plan in court

Uhuru Park in Nairobi on Thursday morning. The Green Belt Movement, associated with the late celebrated environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof Wangari Maathai is opposed to leasing the space to private entities. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

By Barack Oduor | Thursday, December 5, 2024

The group's fresh protest comes a day after Sakaja's cabinet approved the leasing and renting of designated places within Uhuru and Central Parks as part of the grand plan to revitalise the spaces to modern standards.

Plans by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to lease out Uhuru Park and Central Park, the two biggest green recreational spaces in the city, to private entities have angered environmentalists.

The Green Belt Movement, an environmental rights organisation founded by the late Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof Wangari Maathai said they will contest the plans.

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"Not again Sakaja Johnson. Uhuru Park and Central Park are public property. We will not watch as you privatise the only remaining green spaces in Nairobi. See you back in court on December 10, 2024, for the hearing of the ongoing petition about these two parks," the organisation posted in a notice.

The group's fresh protest comes a day after Sakaja's cabinet approved the leasing and renting of designated places within Uhuru and Central Parks as part of the grand plan to revitalise the spaces to modern standards.

The initiative, according to the governor, will attract private investors who will subsequently improve the facilities for park users.

He explained that increasing urban demands have necessitated the need for the county government to develop an innovative approach to sustain such recreational facilities.

During the cabinet session, he encouraged private investors to join in transforming the country's infrastructure.

"This will help establish sustainable income streams to fund park maintenance and development. It will also enhance public amenities by introducing recreational facilities, eateries and event spaces for public enjoyment," Sakaja stated.

The city boss also emphasised the importance of generating revenue for the county to improve service delivery and promote economic growth.

The decision by Sakaja's administration has caused uproar among leaders from Nairobi. A section of county leaders have rejected the plan, saying this could give way to grabbing of the public facilities.

For instance, Nairobi County Assembly Deputy Minority Leader Waithera Chege and Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru said the plans are not wise.

Currently, the Law Society of Kenya and the Green Belt Movement demand that Governor Sakaja drop the plans to allow the building of privately owned facilities within the park.

The Green Belt Movement and the Law Society of Kenya indicated that Uhuru Park's vast green space will be severely impacted if it is commercialised.

"We hereby demand that you immediately withdraw the pronouncements and, in a letter, signed and sealed with the seal of County affirm that Uhuru Park and all open green spaces such as parks maintained by County shall not be commercialised," they said in a statement.

The opposition to Sakaja's plans comes in the wake of his ambitious plan to introduce social facilities including a nightclub on the newly revamped Uhuru Park grounds.

Speaking during the official handover of Uhuru Park, Sakaja announced that the Nairobi County Government would be installing a Sh156 million dancing fountain within the park, among other facilities.

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