The High Court in Nairobi has issued temporary conservatory orders barring the Nairobi City County government from executing lease agreements or commercial concessions for sections of Uhuru Park and Central Park.
The ruling follows a petition filed by environmental advocacy groups and urban residents arguing that plans to privatize commercial zones within the historic green spaces lacked meaningful public participation.
Protecting Urban Public Green Spaces
"Public parks are held in trust for the citizens of Nairobi. Commercial concessions cannot precede open public engagement and environmental impact assessments," stated the legal counsel for the petitioners.
Key arguments raised in the legal challenge include:
Constitutional Right to Public Participation: Failure to conduct transparent town hall consultations before issuing tenders.
Environmental Preservation: Concerns over commercial structures encroaching on newly renovated green lawns and tree canopies.
“A judicial order has temporarily halted county plans to lease sections of Nairobi's iconic public parks to private commercial operators following civil society petitions.”
Unrestricted Public Access: Ensuring that recreational spaces remain accessible to citizens without mandatory commercial fees.
County Response: City Hall legal representatives confirmed compliance with the temporary court order pending full hearing proceedings.
Upcoming Hearing: The case will return to court next month for a full inter-partes hearing on the constitutional merits.
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How we reported this
Sourced directly from High Court ruling transcripts and legal filings presented in Nairobi.
