- The parks were closed for renovations in October after Nairobi MCAs approved a motion to rehabilitate them, saying they were in a deplorable state.
- A motion by majority leader Abdi Ibrahim Guyo sought to have the parks urgently closed and restored to their former glory.
Image: MERCY MUMO
MPs have allocated NMS Sh1 billion for the renovation of Uhuru and Central parks.
This is after President Uhuru Kenyatta this week assented to the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2021.
The National Assembly had passed the budget last week.
The budget will pave way for the withdrawal of Sh127 billion to finance the government until the end of the financial year in June 2022.
The renovation at Uhuru and Central parks was long overdue as they had been neglected for years.
Basic amenities at the parks were built in 1960s and 80s. The population then was less than one million. However, Nairobi has more than four million residents.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Services is upgrading the parks using their own contractors and not a private contractor.
Central and Uhuru parks were closed for renovations in October after Nairobi MCAs approved a motion to rehabilitate them, saying they were in a deplorable state.
A motion by majority leader Abdi Ibrahim Guyo sought to have the parks urgently closed and restored to their former glory.
Guyo said the iconic parks have suffered years of neglect and are in a state of disrepair.
He said they risk losing their appeal, historical significance and recognition should they not be rehabilitated quickly.
The majority leader said rehabilitation and retrofitting of urban parks and green spaces in Nairobi is part of the presidential legacy project and therefore needs the full support of the county.
However, on December 7, last year Justice Edward Wabwoto issued orders prohibiting 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
On December 17 through lawyer Duncan Okatch, NMS wanted the court to set aside the orders that paused its works in the parks.
NMS said the order to halt was issued due to “misinformation of the court and obfuscation of true facts.”
They also said that Wabwoto's ruling was given without NMS being given a chance to be heard and neither was director general Mohammed Badi given any notice and allowed to respond.
But in January, Wabwoto dismissed Badi's request saying he did not give compelling reasons to warrant the court to vacate the same.
However, it is believed that NMS won the court case giving them a green light to continue with the works.
The National Assembly’s committee on Administration and National Security said Badi's team had requested the National Treasury for the funds and they were granted.
“NMS request was granted to undertake the projects but was to be accessed through the 2021-22 supplementary budget and not Article 223 of the Constitution,” Peter Mwathi, the committee’s chairperson said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)