Gov't issues statement after uproar over plan to hive off Uhuru Park for Expressway

brian oruta

October 24, 2019 3:19 PM

Uhuru Park is public land!

Government spokesman Cyrus Oguna. Gov't issues statement after uproar over plan to hive off Uhuru Park for Expressway

The Government of Kenya has been forced to speak on plans to use part of Uhuru Park for the new Expressway, following an uproar from the public.

This comes a few days after concerns were raised by members of the public, on the Governments intent to use part Nairobi’s only recreational park for the project.

In a statement made by the Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna, only 23 meters of Uhuru Park will be affected by the mega project.

Oguna stated that the space will be used to put up pillars for the Expressway that will be elevated and once the road is complete, the place will be converted back into a park.

“Uhuru Park is public land and we therefore appreciate the emotions and sentimental value attached to it. It is for this reason that only 23 meters of the park will be hived off for the #NairobiExpressway. This land will be used to put up pillars that will support the elevated road. Upon completion, the section will have furniture, flower beds and other amenities that will enable Kenyans to continue enjoying the park,” said the Government Spokesperson on Twitter.

Model of the Nairobi Expressway (Standard) Pulse Live Kenya

Earlier reports indicated that Uhuru Park would lose up 1.3 acres of land, which would be used to build the Sh60 Billion Expressway.

Several Kenyans had taken to social media to express their disappointment as soon as reports said that the road would pass through part of the Park that many city dwellers have known to be a recreational park.

The Expressway will begin from Mlolongo to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and end at James Gichuru Road.

brian oruta