Aga Khan, Raila sign city park facelift deal
The Aga Khan and Prime Minister Raila Odinga unveil the plan of new-look Nairobi City Park at the National Museum on November 29, 2012. They oversaw the signing of an agreement between the government and the Aga Khan Trust to rehabilitate the park. Photo/BILLY MUTAI
What you need to know:
- The Aga Khan and Prime Minister Raila Odinga witnessed the signing of an agreement to rehabilitate the park on Thursday
- The Aga Khan projected that once rehabilitated, the park would attract millions of visitors from across the world every year
A major project to give Nairobi City Park a face-lift has been formalised.
The Aga Khan and Prime Minister Raila Odinga witnessed the signing of an agreement to rehabilitate the park on Thursday.
Speaking during the ceremony at the National Museum in Nairobi, the Aga Khan announced that the Aga Khan Trust was committed to investing in the rehabilitation of cultural facilities that improve the lives of the poor.
He noted that the trust was undertaking ten similar projects worldwide, with the Nairobi City Park being the second in East Africa after a similar one in Zanzibar.
The Aga Khan projected that once rehabilitated, the park would attract millions of visitors from across the world every year.
He noted that other parks rehabilitated by the trust were attracting up to three million visitors every year.
Mr Odinga said the project would make substantial contribution to improving Nairobi’s environment.
He said green spaces in fast-growing cities played a big role in not only improving the environment but also people’s living conditions.
“They are leisure spaces and meeting places for all ages and all social categories, encouraging different sectors of the population to mix and integrate,” he said.
He went on: “They have proved to be catalysts for economic activity and a source of employment, both directly and indirectly.”
The project, which starts next year, will entail environmental improvements, landscape architectural conservation and creation of new facilities at the park.
An amphitheatre, a swimming pool and a food court will also be built at the park to help it generate income.
Mr Odinga said the park would help raise awareness among the public on the need to protect the environment.
“As you know, sport has always been popular with people of Kenya. It should be one of the park’s strong points with building of a sports centre along fitness trails,” he added.
Local Government PS Karega Mutahi, his Heritage counterpart Jacob ole Marion, Nairobi Town Clerk Tom Odongo and Mr Luis Monreal for the Aga Khan Trust signed the agreement.
