By Tony Mochama

A month ago, I told you Uhuru Park had become an okay place to chill out following years of use by domestic workers smelling of Rexona and glistening with Vaseline who met here every Sunday and frolicked on its untended and unkempt grass.

But there is another ‘Uhuru’ park in the Lang’ata area that is of even higher calibre than the mid-town one. This is the Uhuru Gardens, once proposed as a burial area for Kenyan heroes and heroines like Kijana Wamalwa. Those glorious thoughts were scuttled by our people, who can hardly dare to think of their ‘sons and daughters’ being buried anywhere other than in their compounds or village ‘square’.

The Nairobi City Council may be incompetent in many areas, but they do know how to restore city parks if Uhuru Gardens is anything to go by. Situated just off the busy Lang’ata Road and opposite the Uchumi Lang’ata Hyper, these tranquil gardens are accessible to everyone, whether you are a walk-in picnic-ker or a drive-in person. Motorists pay Sh100 at the gate to get in and then it is up to you to choose your spot and slide there.

Sandwiches and wine

If one is alone and just wants to meditate away from the noise and bustle of the city or catch up with a good book like Barack Obama’s Audacity of Hope, then the serenity of Uhuru Gardens will be quite pleasing. If you are a couple with a car, you can choose to eat inside the car if it is large enough.

Uhuru Gardens is also particularly well suited for the ‘blanket and wine’ scenario, a traditional picnic concept which involves a couple taking their old ‘Raymond’ blanket along with home-made sandwiches and a wine bottle of good sweet red (for beef) or lovely chill white (for chicken) wine. The advantage of this type of date is that you really get to talk and know each other better.

Children too, are guaranteed a fabulous time at Uhuru Gardens. For a small fee, they can choose to ride a horse, a mechanical dirt buggy or even the friendly camel — the dromedary. Uhuru Gardens is loads of fun for the young ones.

So, if this Valentine your pockets are suffering from the ‘mid-month’ crisis and are wondering where to go and what to do for fun, take your loved one to Uhuru Gardens for a nice afternoon.