Nairobi's Central Park finally reopens after nearly 5 years

Nairobi's Central Park has been reopened to the public after five years behind closed gates.

Governor Johnson Sakaja announced on Tuesday that the green space is now rehabilitated after years of works. 

"Central Park belongs to the people of Nairobi. For too long, Nairobians were unable to enjoy this important green space, and today we are restoring it to its rightful owners, the people. Our commitment is to ensure that our public spaces are accessible, safe, clean and properly maintained," Mr Sakaja said.

City Hall said its prolonged closure was linked to outstanding works, questions around project completion and payments, and the formal handover of the facility to Nairobi City County, all of which delayed its full return to public use.

Green Nairobi County Executive Committee Member Maureen Njeri termed the reopening marks as a "milestone".

"We have worked to restore this space so that residents can once again enjoy its greenery, walkways and recreational facilities in a safe and welcoming environment," she said.

Rights of city residents

In 2024, the Environment and Land Court ordered to Mr Sakaja reopen the parks to the public after the Green Belt Movement (GBM) challenged the closure of Central and Uhuru Parks. 

The lobby had moved to court arguing that the continued closure of the parks was an infringement of the rights of city residents.

It argued that the prolonged closure of Central Park and the intermittent opening and closing of Uhuru Park, without any notice or justification infringes on the rights of Kenyans under Articles 42 and 69 of the Constitution.

In 2024, Mr Sakaja's Cabinet approved a plan to rent and lease open green spaces at Uhuru and Central parks to private businesses under a public-private partnership. This, it said at the time, was to help generate revenue for the city and attract residents to the recreational facilities. 

Uhuru and Central parks are synonymous with Kenya’s quest for multiparty democracy in the 1990s, and have been popular venues for political rallies during campaigns.

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