We members of Bunge la Mwananchi (BLM), users of Jeevanjee Gardens and Residents of Nairobi County are petitioning you to ignore calls asking UN HABITAT & the Nairobi City County Government to stop the plans of the improvement of Jeevanjee Gardens on claims that the improvement will lead to ecological destruction and commercialization of the Jeevanjee Gardens. 

This is because contrary to claims being peddled around; 

1.      There shall be no cutting down of some trees but instead the improvement involves planting of more indigenous trees and grasses.

2.      There shall be no Introduction of market stalls as claimed 

3.      There shall be no introduction of food kiosks as claimed.

4.      There shall be no displacement of BLM from its current location in the park and instead the current space used by BLM shall be improved by introducing more seats and cover.

5.       There shall be no closure of the Jeevanjee Gardens as claimed as the improvement shall be going on in situ. 

It is therefore imperative to note that the intended improvement of the Jeevanjee Gardens is in tandem with the intention of Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee who donated it to the residents of Nairobi as a resting place as the process intends at making the garden more comfortable to use as more seats, grass and treee shall be introduced.

Also note that part two of the fourth schedule of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 vests the function of management of parks and recreational facilities on the County Government hence the involvement of the Nairobi City County Government is in tandem with the law and not intended at grabbing the Jeevanjee Gardens.

Also note that the Section 87 of the County Government Act 2010 envisages citizen participation as a reasonable balance in the roles and obligations of county governments and non-state actors in decision-making processes to promote shared responsibility, and to provide complementary authority and oversight. This therefore means that non-state actors like UN HABITAT, BLM and others users have a role to play in the process and the leadership of BLM is involved in the process committee. 

BLM is therefore asking all users and residents of Nairobi City County to sign this petition so that this noble process can go on.