Uhuru and Central Parks as well as GreenPark terminus might probably be Nairobi's last projects to be commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The two parks have been closed for the past 10 months for renovations by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services.
Speaking to the Star NMS Director General Mohammed Badi said the parks were 80 per cent complete and they are to be commissioned by the President.
Uhuru might commission the parks but will, however, remain closed until the works are completed.
“The parks were to be commissioned over the weekend but it all depends on the President’s diary. Most probably the commissioning will take place after elections," he said.
However, even after commissioning the parks will still remain closed for another month or so to allow completion of renovations.
Using their own contractors, NMS is renovating Uhuru and Central parks into a world-class modern look for recreational purposes.
The parks had been outdated and renovations ought to have been done 20 years ago.
MPs allocated Sh1 billion for the renovations of both parks.
"Most of the children’s playgrounds in the estates have been grabbed and they lack a place where they can play and mingle. Once we complete Uhuru Park, it will be an epic place for families," Badi noted
Uhuru Park will have manicured lawns, maintained trees, enhanced walkways and green spaces.
The lilies pond at the park will be turned into an aquarium named Uhuru Aquascape.
A larger artificial lake will be transformed into a major waterfront with a Swahili restaurant.
There will be an outdoor amphitheatre fitted with an audiovisual screen, a Nyatiti-shaped events garden, and a children’s play area, with bouncing castles and merry-go-rounds.
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 flowers and plants labelled to enhance learning.
Management offices, event spaces, ablution facilities, physical exercise spaces and touristic features and attractions will be available.
Parks will be fenced and manned, allowing the two parks to operate on a 24-hour basis.
There will be terraced sitting areas with a biosphere look, a dancing fountain put up along 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 closed for renovations in October after Nairobi MCAs approved a motion to rehabilitate the two iconic public parks, saying they were in a deplorable state.
