Last updated: October 2024
The John Michuki Memorial Park was transformed from a vast dumpsite in 2008 and established in honor of John Michuki, the Environment Minister during the Kibaki administration, in 2012. Michuki garnered admiration and accolades for his enthusiasm and determination to clean and preserve the environment (Ref 1, 2). Situated along the Nairobi River, the park serves as a historically rich recreational facility (Ref 3). However, several issues arose after the park was transferred to the county administration in 2013 (Ref 2). A section of the Nairobi River flowing through the park experienced severe environmental degradation due to illegal discharges and poor waste management, negatively impacting the riparian ecosystem and biodiversity (Ref 4). Additionally, the park became a refuge for drug users, street children, and thieves, with stray dogs posing safety threats in the area (Ref 1, 2). As the first project within the Cleaning Up Kenya Campaign, the restoration of Michuki Memorial Park was launched in 2020 by the government (Ref 5). The park is now managed by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) following a directive from the national government (ibid.). With funds from the treasury, a perimeter fence was erected, a 2.4 km walkway was constructed, and 4,200 seedlings and 6,357 indigenous trees were planted, along with the establishment of a nursery (Ref 1, 6). A total of 20,000 tons of solid waste were removed (Ref 6). Additionally, a community forest association was formed to ensure community engagement (Ref 2).
park-opening
https://www.nema.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=320&Itemid=473
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Environmental quality
- Soil quality improvement
- Waste management
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Improvements to water quality
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Combatting crime and corruption
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Poor water quality
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Insecurity in public spaces
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Restoration, protecion and sustainable manage floodplains, Protection of riparian vegetation, Restoration of riparian vegetation, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Soil remediation and revegetation, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities
Project objectives
1) To remove waste and pollutants from the river to improve water quality and support aquatic life and to clean up Nairobi River from all illegal discharges (Ref 4);
2) To establishing tree nurseries and planting indigenous species to enhance biodiversity and green cover in the park and along the Nairobi River (Ref 5);
3) To build a green walkway, public toilets, and recreational facilities to improve public access to urban park (Ref 1, 5);
4) To combat thieves and gangs near the park to increase safety in the area (Ref 1, 5);
5) To Involving local communities in park management and conservation (Ref 1, 2).
6) To stabilize the banks of the river crossing the park to enhance flood protection and reduce the risk of flooding within the park as Nairobi often experiences intense seasonal rains, especially during the long rainy season (March-May) and short rainy season (October-December). (Ref. 1, 2, 5)
Implementation activities
1) Erected a perimeter fence to keep gangs of thieves from hiding at the facility (Ref 5); 88 trees species found and 58 identified for planting at the park by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute found (Ref 1, 2); 2.4 km of walkway with grass laid, planted 4200 seedlings and 6,357 indigenous trees planted in newly established modern nursery, which will stock indigenous tree seedlings for sale to the people of Nairobi (Ref 2, 6); Gabions constructed by over 120 youth to stabilize the banks of Nairobi River (Ref 1, 2, 5);
2) Cleaning up Nairobi River from all illegal discharges and waste management within the park (Ref 4). A total of 20,000 tons of solid waste was removed (Ref 6); The culprits have been apprehended and charged in court who have been found discharging untreated effluent into the river as well as encroaching into the riparian zones of Nairobi River (Ref 4);
3) A café and an amphitheater with a 500 sitting capacity, a new guard house, events' grounds and a place where worshipers can pray were designed (Ref 1, 6); New toilets constructed (Ref 1, 5);
4) Meeting with local communities held on creating a Community Forest Association, the crucial role of which will be acknowledged by the Environment management laws (Ref 1, 2).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement measures that prevent/manage desertification, soil erosion and landslides
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Means for conservation governance
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Public sector institution
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was the first initiative launched within Cleaning Up Kenya Campaign, a campaign led by cadres of the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) on conservation (Ref 4). Kenya Forest Service (KFS) took over the management of the park from the county government by the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment and Forestry following a Presidential Directive (Ref 6). The project was funded by the National Treasury of Kenya (Ref 1). Mobilised by the Cabinet Secretary, extensive rehabilitation works was carried out by KFS, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) (Ref 4, 6). The work was conducted with assistance from other stakeholders including the National Museums of Kenya and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services, the National Youth Service, the Kenya Seed Company among others (ibid.). Meeting with local communities held on creating a Community Forest Association, whose role in management acknowledged by laws (Ref 1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project was the first initiative launched within Cleaning Up Kenya Campaign, a campaign led by cadres of the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) to boost the country’s environmental conservation efforts . The Cleaning Up Kenya Campaign is aligned with several national strategies, notably the National Environment Action Plan (NEAP) (Ref 4). )
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Achieved improved waste management
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Restoration of derelict areas
- Achieved restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Generation of income from NBS
- Expected generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Expected increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Achieved enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Achieved improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Protection of natural heritage
- Achieved protection of natural heritage
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Achieved increased perception of safety
- Decreased crime rates
- Achieved decreased crime rates
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
The Star (2020). Restoration of Michuki Memorial Park underway. The Star, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Koech, G. (2020). Restored Michuki Memorial Park to be managed by KFS. The Star, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Ogutu, C. (2020). How Michuki Park changed from a dumpsite to a modern recreational facility. Chams Media, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
4.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) (2020). Michuki Park officially opened. National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Chepkoech, A.; Njau, S. (2020). City gets new green space as Michuki park is launched. Nation, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Ministry of Environment and Forestry (n.d.). Hon. JOHN N. MICHUKI MEMORIAL PARK STORY MAP. Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 4 Distribution of Population by Administrative Units. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 3 Distribution of Population by Age and Sex. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 4 Distribution of Population by Socio Economic Characteristics. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 1 Population By County And Sub County. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Bakhtiar, M. (2023). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
12.
Mwandikwa, S. (2022). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
13.
Chinku Travels (n.d.). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
14.
Simatwa, C. (2024). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
15.
Murimi, P. (2022). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
16.
Omondi, G. (2022). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
17.
Adm. A. (2024). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
Hon. John N. Michuki Memorial Conservation Park
The Star
park-opening
https://www.nema.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=320&Itemid=473
Hon. John N. Michuki Memorial Conservation Park
Chansmedia
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.