How beatification of nun has changed face of Nyeri town

Nyeri Town has not only acquired a new look, but a new name as well, thanks to the beatification of Catholic nun Sister Irene Stefani.

Public parks and monuments have been renovated and streets are now well-lit. Residents have now nicknamed Nyeri Town ‘Kenyan London’, owing to its new-found beauty.

The town is sparkling and its beauty is more pronounced, especially at night, when the lights are switched on.

The county government embarked beautification of the town in readiness for the beatification of the nun at her former church.

Among the monuments that were refurbished is the Baden Powell clock tower. A new city clock was fixed to replace the vintage bronze clock that had been vandalised. It was Nyeri’s first city clock.

The tower, which is significant to the scouting movement in Kenya and gazetted as a national monument, has been vandalised several times by scrap metal dealers.

Lord Powel designed the tower in the 19030s in honour of King George V, whom he had served as a British soldier. Its architecture is unique.

However, some scouts felt the tower deserved better than just installing a new city clock.

STREETS NAMED

Former Scouts Movement Commissioner Gathi Kimita said the county government should have worked with the National Museums of Kenya and obtained some historical equipment to replace the stolen items.

“There were no restrictions as far as renovations to the monument are concerned,” said the Nyeri museum curator.

The county government worked with Kenya Power and Lighting Company to light the town among other renovations in the run-up to the occasion that ended with Sunday’s thanksgiving service.

Similarly, all the streets have now been named and some drains repaired and others unblocked.

Roundabouts were not left out either — they have been repainted and the roads swept clean. Flowers have been planted, restoring beauty to the town that once served as the headquarters of the former Central Province.

Business is thriving, thanks to the lights that traders hope will enable them to engage in a 24-hour economy.

The challenge will be on the county government to maintain Nyeri’s new status and Governor Nderitu Gachagua says his administration is up to the task.

“I know there are fears that the street lighting will be switched off. I want to confirm that those are just rumours propagated by the enemies of development. The lights will remain,” Mr Nderitu said.