County defends erection of stalls in Lions garden as environmental experts raise concerns

The renovation of Lions Garden has elicited a lot of debate following the erection of metallic stalls within the public garden.

While the county administration argues that this is a potential boost to the local economy, environmental experts have raised concerns over the garden's recreational and environmental value.

Speaking to Mtaa Wangu, the County Chief Officer for Environment and Water, Ken Mungai says the Nakuru County government provided the space and design to facilitate the construction of stalls.

“The stalls will measure 3 meters from the perimeter wall and will run a distance of 100 meters. Each stall will be 1.7 meters,” he notes.

Asked why the stalls are being constructed, Mungai says, “We have people like photographers and nail artists who have been operating businesses in this locale for a very long time. We had to bring them into the fold and see how best we would cater for them, hence setting up the stalls,” he notes.

Jackson Raini, an environmental expert insists that the public garden was purely meant for recreational purposes hence putting up stalls for businesses in the park is very wrong. 

"This should be a space in the outdoor designed primarily for leisure, relaxation, and enjoyment. These spaces should encompass play areas, picnic areas, sitting and must be maintained as purely recreational," he argues. 

Meanwhile, the Chief Officer says two stakeholder participation sessions were held before the County reached its decision.

“In October last year, the first stakeholder meeting was held and soon after the second one was done through engagement with the Ward Climate Change planning committee for Biashara Ward,” Mungai says.

He continues, “They made a proposal and asked the county to allocate funds for rehabilitation of this garden from the County Climate Change Fund which was approved amounting to sh. 10 million.”

The stakeholders in question, Mungai says were the shoe shiners, nail artists, photographers and street families.

“The first action plan was relocating street families to different spaces.”

Environmental activist James Waikibia, however says that instead of the environment department putting up stalls in the park, it should instead think of ways to expand it for the common good of everyone.

“Over time, there will be environmental degradation as the place will be turned into a market and it will no longer serve as a recreational facility.”

Wakibia adds, “It is also worth noting that the Lions Garden is the only carbon sink (natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) in the city centre. Erecting stalls therefore increases the risk of losing this important factor.”

On his part, Mungai says the traders will be guided by an MOU that will ensure preservation of the garden.

“First, the trader will not be allowed to change the business. Meaning, if you are a photographer, you cannot start selling fruits. Secondly, the county government will have the powers to kick out any trader who does not adhere to the guidelines,” he says.

The County Government will also plant trees to maintain its environmental aesthetics. 

But for Wakibia and Raini, their stand remains that this move, is ill advised.