Uhuru Park is a key landmark that sits at Kenya’s Capital, Nairobi. The park is considered as Kenya’s birth place. “This is where the first Kenyan flag was first raised and thus marking the very first year of independence on the 12th December 1963. Within the garden are two monuments commemorating Kenya’s independence, and a Mugumo (fig) tree. The Mugumo tree is symbolic as it was planted on the spot where the Union Jack (British flag) was brought down and Kenya’s national flag was first hoisted. The site was a diversity of native flora and fauna of savannah woodland, according to the National Museums of Kenya.
The park was later on officially declared a National Monument in 1966 due to its historical importance. Later on, in May 23rd 1969, the 12.9 hectare park was opened to the general public by the late President Jomo Kenyatta. Uhuru Park is also the home of the Mau-Mau freedom fighters monument that honors victims of torture during the colonial era.
The Nairobi County Assembly on 28th September 2021, approved a facelift of the park. Which saw the renovation of Uhuru Park, to commence in November 2021 which aimed to modernize and build better facilities and amenities within the park. Yesterday, the 30th of August 2022,the Nairobi Metropolitan Services shared pictures and a video of facelift for the first time.
“The rehabilitation works which come 52 years after the green spaces were first opened to the public involved construction of various buildings & landscaping features that include; a playground, an outdoor gym, jogging tracks, botanical trails, outdoor library and a skating park. The revamped green spaces will play a critical role in environmental pollution management, social- economic development of the nation as well as the physical well-being of citizens,” NMS shared on their twitter.
