URGENT CALL TO STOP ENCROACHMENT AT CITY PARK (dated 28 April 2014)

PRESS RELEASE

URGENT CALL TO STOP ENCROACHMENT AT CITY PARK (dated 28 April 2014)

The Friends of City Park wish to express outrage and     concern about the ongoing encroachment at the City Park of Nairobi,  a public green space gazetted as a National Monument in 2009, under the  National Museums and Heritage Act (Cap. 216 Laws of Kenya). The encroachment entails the clearing of bush in a substantial area, on the North side of the Park, behind the War Veterans Cemetery and adjacent to the   Joseph Murumbi Memorial.

The matter was first reported by the Friends of City Park to the Nairobi City County Government in the last week of March 2014. With great concern, we note that a month later the encroachment activities continue.

This is a gross violation of a Park which is a jewel in Nairobi’s crown of public spaces. It is unique in encapsulating the type of natural forest that, until a hundred years ago, covered most of Nairobi. As such it can be considered a ‘living museum’. Wanton destruction of this habitat is destroying important biodiversity which in some cases is unique to the City Park and making the site unusable by the public.

As concerned residents, we are calling for a stop of this impunity being visited on public land and urging the Nairobi City County Government and other responsible Government agencies to stop this illegal activity at City Park, by what we believe is a private party.

We would also like the media to make the general public, aware of these developments.

END

The public enjoying an event at City Park . Let’s work together to keep the Park green and open to the public.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Firstly, what is City Park?

• City Park is both a public park and a protected area under the National Museums and Heritage Act.

• It is Nairobi's oldest park, entrusted in 1932 to the local authority governing Nairobi at the time, for the recreation of "the town's future citizens".

• It is located between Forest Rd and Limuru Rd, in the Nairobi area of Parklands.

Why it matters?

• It is more than 60 hectares of green space, that incorporate botanic gardens and an evergreen forest remnant.

• With so little green space per person in the city, it is used by communities from as far as Kibera, Embakasi, Karasani as well as those that border the park.

• We've identified more than 1000 species of plants and animals at City Park, making it a biodiversity hotspot in the city.

• The park is one of the few lungs of the city, helping to absorb carbon produced from all the activity in the city.

• City Park also has a rich cultural legacy – The freedom fighter and human-rights activist, Pio Gama Pinto, is buried here, as is Kenya's second Vice-President, Joseph Murumbi (a Murumbi Memorial Garden has been established). There are also several historical sites in the park, including the Catholic, Anglican, Jewish and World War I and World War II veterans’ cemeteries.

The Land and Monument?

• 60 hectares were gazetted as a National Monument by the National Museums of Kenya in 2009 (No. 59 of 4th September 2009 - Legislative Supplement No. 35). The gazetted area includes the band-stand, forest, gardens, nurseries, Bowling Green, Murumbi memorial, cemeteries.

•  The Friends first brought the land issues to the fore at the end of 1996. With regard to the details of the land, and who grabbed it, the National Land Commission would be in the best position to give details of the current situation. Indeed the NLC published a list of land parcels in the national print media on 10th Jul 2013 with the view that they were obtained and granted in an illegal and/or irregular manner (Daily Nation pg.45).

Actions of the Friends of City Park (Friends)

• The Friends is a volunteer group established in 1996 by Nature Kenya (the East Africa Natural History Society).

• Through community organizing, newspaper and media reporting, the Friends initiated and sustained strong public presence with respect to the conservation and protection of City Park.  Newspapers archives will provide a useful historical record of the land issues as they unfolded over the years.

• The Friends worked closely with the National Museums in realizing the gazettement of City Park. The Friends also worked with Museum scientists in completing a biodiversity survey, and published the first ever guidebook for City Park.

•      The Friends have engaged with the National Land Commission on the issue of the contents of the 10 Jul 2013 notice.

•  The Friends encourage use, education, research, and conservation of the park with activities like guided walks (which are open and free to the public), clean-up events, gardening events, corporate and school activities.