Nairobi rains breathe life into the ‘dying’ Jeevanjee gardens

Patches of sun-beaten grass and soil had for many months taken over the park located in the heart of Nairobi, making it look like a gravesite.

Residents have told Wananchi Reporting that the rains could not have come at a better time.

The rains – they say –  have given the little garden a new life.

“I no longer go to the Jeevanjee gardens like I used to. It’s not looking nice, and the rehabilitation works took too long,” says Cedrick Otieno, a resident of Nairobi.

The famous park began undergoing rehabilitation by the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) sometime in November 2021, and was to end in June 2022.

According some of the residents of Nairobi who spoke to Wananchi Reporting – they often walked to the park after running errands in town to rest their feet and grab a quick nap on the grass.

This, however, changed after the renovation works began – at which point the park was closed for many months.

And when it opened, a Sh5,000 fine was introduced in an attempt to deter people from stepping onto the new grass.

“Notice, keep away from grass. If found you will be charged Sh5,000 fees,” read a notice hurriedly pinned on one of the trees in the garden in March.

The ‘new park’ had some of its open areas, where people used to sit, dug off and replaced with a new layer of green soft grass.

The old benches at the garden were removed and replaced with concrete blocks that could accommodate many people. 

However, according to the residents, the new soft grass that had been planted at the park did not grow to form a rich carpet of green as had been intended – making the park to look like a little desert in the middle of Nairobi.

According to residents of Nairobi, planting and watering of the grass at the park stopped during the long drought, leaving behind a dusty, rugged park – almost like a harrowed field.

The rains started in March, and each drop has been changing the story of Jeevanjee gardens.

A rich carpet of green grass has taken over the park – but residents say it looks bushy.

“The grass should be trimmed to some level to make it look good and attractive,” says Tom Ndhune – a resident of Nairobi.

The park has been famous with members of the public looking to grab a quick nap, preachers looking to win souls, and Bunge La Wananchi.

The park was closed alongside Uhuru Park and Uhuru Gardens to allow for rehabilitation works to improve their stature.

Residents of Nairobi feel that the rehabilitation works done at the historic Jeevanjee gardens is nothing to write home about.

Meanwhile, residents are asking the county government to trim the grass.