Nairobi struggles to save, expand green open spaces

Nairobi, once known as the Green City in the Sun, is on the verge of losing its remaining green spaces.

In the 1900s, public spaces and greener were prominent in Nairobi’s Urban Planning Master plan, occupying about 30 per cent of the total area.

Today, open space is just a fraction and most residents are denied places of shade, calm and recreation.

But Nairobi is trying to expand open space for its residents, reclaiming and beautifying some areas and creating others. 

In the past year, Kenya's capital city has been undergoing infrastructure developments to decongest roads that are notorious for traffic jams.

The major ongoing project, the Nairobi Expressway (JKIA James Gichuru Expressway) required  felling about 500 trees to make way for the four-lane and six-lane dual carriageway. It runs within the existing median of Mombasa Road-Uhuru Highway-Waiyaki Way.

During last month's inspection, Transport CS  James Macharia said more than 500 trees would be planted once major works are done; replacing trees is part of the contract.

At the Museum Hill Roundabout, few trees are left along the Nairobi River Nairobi River. They had to be cut to allow installation of pillars of the expressway.

Before the road project started last year, motorists using Mombasa Road used to to see marabou storks perched in the trees. No more trees, no more storks today.

Many of the trees were planted by the Nairobi City Council when Waiyaki Way was completed in the 1990s.

Despite Nairobi being an international hub, the city has retained some of its natural greenery.

A report by the UN-Habitat Kenya, 'The Nairobi City County Public Space Inventory and Assessment,' in September 2020 said the city has more than 826 public spaces. The include 99 playgrounds, 51 sports fields, 15 parks and 19 gardens, among others.

However, today the spaces are less visible, having been squeezed, encroached upon and grabbed. They are under threat of being wiped out.

The arboretum forests with the city centre still exist, while both Karura and Ngong forests are within the boundaries of Kiambu and Kajiado counties.

Nairobi also has City Park, Michuki Park, Uhuru and Central parks and Jevanjee Gardens

The Ngong and Karura forests lie within city boundaries. The city has an arboretum and an array of parks and open green spaces like Uhuru Park, which has been closed, City Park and Jeevanjee Gardens,

However, rapid population growth and urbanisation has required infrastructure development. This development, plus encroachment, poor maintenance and neglect have reduced the open spaces.

This loss caused President Uhuru Kenyatta on June 5, 2020, to direct the Environment ministry, Nairobi Metropolitan Services and the Kenya Forest Service to reclaim and conserve the natural public land in the capital. He issued the directive on World Environment Day.

Consequently, NMS embarked restoration of the remaining green spaces. 

Nairobi has eight major public open spaces: Uhuru/Central Park, Jamhuri Park, City Park, Arboretum, Kamkunji, Jeevanjee Gardens, Karura forest and Ngong Road forest.

Some of these parks were dumpsites and havens for criminals who terrorised city residents. 

“A city’s green space is literally the life of its people," NMS director general Mohammed Badi said.

"From Michuki Park, ongoing works at Jeevanjee, Uhuru Park and City Park, rehabilitation and beautification of streets and medians this truly is becoming the Green City in the Sun," Badi said.

City Park, which was a target of land grabbers, was placed under the management of KFS.

Michuki Park was successfully renovated and opened by President Kenyatta last year n August.

Uhuru and Central parks have been closed as renovation is underway.

It appears Lang'ata Cemetery might be moved to as the Kenya Forest Service has not yet sealed a deal with NMS for new land.

NMS boss Badi had earlier said the agency was in talks with KFS to swap land for an expansion of cemetery land.

Badi said, however, it would be very difficult to convince KFS to swap land as it doesn't negotiate on land where trees have to be cut.

KFS has a target of 10 per cent forest cover by 2022 .

In 2019, KFS set out a strategy to increase forest cover from the current 7.2 per cent to 10 per cent by 2022. The cost is Sh48 billion.

Kenya needs to plant 1.8 billion seedlings between now and 2022 to achieve the target.

“They are doing their level best but mostly they don't negotiate when it means cutting down trees to create bare land. KFS has their targets on the number of trees to plant on their land, so the 10 per cent green cover is their biggest headache," Badi said.

As part of its strategy to decongest Uhuru and Central parks, NMS  has identified 76.01 acres within the county that will be converted to recreational spaces.

They represent six targeted spaces within estates across five subcounties of Embakasi East, Kasarani, Kamukunji , Westlands and Kibera. Some of the natural greenery will be retained.

NMS  said the estates lack recreational spaces.

In Embaksi East, NMS has marked Jacaranda Grounds that occupy 31.73 acres near the Jacaranda Estate. In Kamukunji, there are 7.27 acres of Kamukunji grounds.

The two grounds have always been a favourite political campaign venues.

From Westlands, located near Mwani Road, Westlands Botanical Gardens on 10.21 acres qualifies as a recreational park

The Kasarani Riparian reserve within Gumba estate is adjacent to EABL company in Kasarani subcounty.

Kibera contains 22.2 acres along the Southern Bypass and 4.3 acres between NHC Housing and Jonathan Ngeno estate. They will be converted to recreational parks.

To save the remaining green open spaces, the Nairobi County Assembly has come up with the Nairobi City County Public Open Spaces Use and Maintenance Bill 2021 to regulate public open spaces.

Last December, the Ministry of Environment said national and county governments are expected to establish and maintain arboreta, green zones and botanical gardens, among others.

According to the Bill by nominated MCA Millicent Okatch, any land laid out or declared a public park or public open space must be maintained and used solely for the purpose for which it was laid out or reserved.

Consequently, each public open space in the county shall be issued with a title deed to be held in public trust to protect the the space from misallocation.

The Bill, which has already gone through a first reading, defines a  public open space as all open space of public value. It includes not just land ut also areas of water such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs that offer opportunities for recreation. they are also visual amenities.

(Edited by V. Graham)