- The 12.9-hectare park will boast manicured lawns, maintained trees, enhanced walkways and green spaces.
- There will be a botanical space with all species of flowers and plants to capture Kenya's floral biodiversity with the flowers and plants labelled to enhance learning.
The iconic Uhuru Park and Central Park in Nairobi are expected to be dazzling once renovation works are complete.
According to a master plan by Nairobi Metropolitan Services, the new look Uhuru Park will comprise a modern garden with waterfronts.
The 12.9-hectare park will boast manicured lawns, maintained trees, enhanced walkways and green spaces.
The lilies pond at the park will be turned into an aquarium named Uhuru Aquascape.
The larger artificial lake will be transformed into a major waterfront with a Swahili restaurant alongside it.
There will also be an outdoor amphitheatre fitted with an audiovisual screen, a Nyatiti-shaped events garden, as well as a children's play area with bouncing castles and merry-go-rounds.
The park will house a monument to honour health workers who lost their lives battling the Covid-19 pandemic.
The iconic Nyayo statue and Mau Mau freedom fighters monuments will be maintained
There will be a botanical space with all species of flowers and plants to capture Kenya's floral biodiversity with the flowers and plants labelled to enhance learning.
Management offices, event spaces, ablution facilities, physical exercise spaces and touristic features and attractions will also be available..
To improve security, the parks will be fenced with gates that will be manned, allowing the two parks to operate 24 hours a day.
There will also be terraced sitting areas with a biosphere look, a dancing fountain put up along the Processional Way and several eateries and two high-end restaurants.
Central Park will have an outdoor library for use by children to read and it will also be used for book launches.
The two parks were to be ready and open to the public in February this year.
In December Justice Wabwoto prohibited NMS and its contractors or agents from felling trees or carrying out any works at the park.
Work was suspended until the case was heard and determined this year.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also told off critics regarding the ongoing renovations at the parks.
The renovations did not sit well with people who speculated land grabbing.
"Wale ambao walikuwa wanasema tumegrab Uhuru Park and Central Park wacha waone ile kazi inaendelea hapa (Those who were saying we grabbed Uhuru Park and Central Park come and see the work we are doing),” Uhuru said.
NMS Director general Mohamed Badi vowed to restore green spaces in Nairobi and transform them to international standards.
He said he will transform Uhuru and Central parks to mirror those in Dubai and United Arabs Emirates.
Last year, the county assembly approved a motion by Majority Leader Abdi Hasaan Guyo, giving NMS the green light to close the two parks and commence renovations.
Guyo highlighted that the iconic parks have been neglected and risk losing their appeal, historical significance and recognition if nothing is done urgently.
A month later, the both parks were fenced off with bulldozers to commence the transformational journey.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)