Uhuru Gardens

© www.opendemocracy.net
Genre : Cultural centre, Development/education
Status : Public administration
Principal country concerned : Column : History/society, Heritage
Langata Road, Nairobi
Nairobi
Kenya
Tel. : +254 20 3742741 | +254 20 3742161/4
Fax : +254 20 3741424
http://www.museums.or.ke/
Contact by email

Uhuru Gardens is Nairobi's largest memorial park to the struggle for independence from the British government and was gazette as a national monument in 2006 under the management of the then City Council of Nairobi.  
There are two monuments at the site: one a commemorative monument to the struggle for independence and two a monument with a fountain about a hundred metres away marking 25 years of Uhuru – peace, love and unity monument.
The independence commemorative monument was constructed in 1973 upon the spot where Uhuru (freedom/independence) from colonial rule was declared at midnight of December 12, 1963. On the same night at this location the first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, was inaugurated. Here a crowd of over 40,000 gathered to watch the proceedings as Kenya was declared independent.
The commemorative monument is a 24-metre high triumphal column, supporting a pair of clasped hands and a dove of peace. On one side of this monument is a statue of freedom fighters raising the Kenyan flag.
A Mugumo (fig) tree at the site marks the spot where the national flag was first hoisted after the Union Jack (flag of the United Kingdom) was lowered indicating the birth of the nation, Kenya.
In addition to the historical significance, Uhuru Gardens continues to attract various events as a recreational park. It is popular as a rest area for families and friends, a must visit for schools and in recent times has gained popularity as an events venue for corporate launches, concerts, weddings, film location just to name a few. It is located in the Lang'ata area of Nairobi, along Lang'ata Road, bordering Carnivore Restaurant to the south and Wilson Airport to the east. 

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  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
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