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.
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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.
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