Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale has announced that he will be handing over Uhuru Park to Governor Johnson Sakaja on Thursday, April 18, following the completion of renovations at the space.
While appearing before the senate, the CS assured the house that at 9:00 am on the promised date, the park will be given back to the Nairobi governor.
Further, duale stated that the renovations of the park were already complete as per the contract agreed upon, adding that there was only less than eight percent of pending works remaining.
“I am handing over that park tomorrow morning. We were looking for time and the governor has given us his availability. I want to assure this house that by 9 o’clock we will have handed over the park.
I am inviting the senator of Nairobi, please come and take over your park. The works at Uhuru Park have been completed as per the contract with only minimal works remaining for the Central Park,” he said.
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Duale Explains Why His Ministry Took Over the Park
At the same time, Duale explained that the military took over the renovation works at the Uhuru Park and the Central Park under the instruction of the government.
According to him, the quality of the park facilities was poor, and they were not functioning. The objective of the move, he noted, was to restore the glory of Uhuru Park.
“The Ministry of Defence was tasked with the rehabilitation of open spaces in both Uhuru and Central parks of Nairobi, which began in March 20222, jointly implemented with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services then.
“Running parks is not our core mandate and this house knows, the constitution provides that we protect the territorial integrity of our country. We only come to do one or two things when we are called upon by the national government,” stated the CS.
On the remaining less than eight percent of renovations, Duale said that the ministry had signed an MOU with the county government of Nairobi to ensure that the work is completed in less than three weeks.
Also Read: Sifuna Poses 4 Questions to Sakaja Regarding Uhuru Park
Days Uhuru Park Was Opened Since the Takeover
Since the renovations at Uhuru Park began, the military in collaboration with the county government of Nairobi has been allowing the public to use this facility occasionally for functions.
Some of the occasions included the Inaugural Nairobi Festival of December 2022, the World Rally Championships launch of June 2023, and launch of the Community Health Promoters in September 2023.
Also, the park was opened for the Nairobi festival of December 2023, the Christmas festivities and the new year celebrations.
