Court orders Sakaja to reopen Central Park
A family walks at Central park in Nairobi on December 27, 2020. A judge has ordered the immediate reopening of Nairobi’s Central Park to the public, which has remained closed for close to three years.
What you need to know:
- The lobby moved to court arguing that the continued closure of the park was an infringement of the rights of the city residents.
- GBM stated that city residents’ clamour for available private and public open spaces and green spaces has forced them to turn to dangerous places including road intersections, for relaxation.
A judge has ordered the immediate reopening of Nairobi’s Central Park to the public, which has remained closed for close to three years.
Environment and Land Court judge, Anne Omollo, on Monday granted temporary orders, directing the Nairobi County government to reopen the park to the public.
The judge said she could not understand why the park remained closed during this festive season.
Green Belt Movement (GBM) challenged the closure of Central and Uhuru Parks alleging that the county government has not offered any explanation despite writing to the City Hall.
“A declaration that the Respondents have infringed and violated constitutional rights of Kenyans by failing to provide information within the province of Article 35, relied upon and the basis of which there has been prolonged closure of Central Park since 2021 and the intermittent opening and closing of Uhuru Park areas is premised,” the judge said.
The judge directed the matter to be heard on February 17, 2025.
The lobby moved to court arguing that the continued closure of the park was an infringement of the rights of the city residents.
GBM stated that city residents’ clamour for available private and public open spaces and green spaces has forced them to turn to dangerous places including road intersections, for relaxation.
The lobby said the lack of green spaces is degrading to the human person, while the county government sleeps on their duty to make provision for well-maintained safe, green spaces across the county.
The organisation said it was concerned about the frequent closure of Uhuru Park even after its long closure extending to over two years since 2021.
“Notwithstanding the grave impact of the intermittent opening and closure, the Petitioners appraise the court that Central Park remains closed, concretisation is ongoing, with no signs of it ever being opened,” the organisation’s chairperson Nyaguthie Chege said.
She said Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja has made numerous commitments, which he ended up reneging on the reopening of Central Park, adding that it is not clear why there have been extended delays and the intentions.
The organisation wants the Environment and Land Court to issue a declaration that the prolonged closure of Central Park and the intermittent opening and closing of Uhuru Park, without any notice, without explanation or justification infringes on the rights of Kenyans under Articles 42 and 69 of the constitution.
