Kenya Government wants City Park deal reviewed

By HUDSON GUMBIHI

Nairobians could now have a say on the takeover of City Park by an Aga Khan agency.

The government wants a rehabilitation agreement of the City Park thoroughly reviewed.

Solicitor general Njee Muturi wants state departments to re-examine the Resource Funding and Technical Assistance Agreement (RFTA) signed between government and Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

According to Muturi, the agreement favoured AKTC, which plans to upgrade the park through its partner Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) amid silent protests from some government officials who view the project as a fraud.

In a letter to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, National Lands Commission, Treasury and Nairobi County, Muturi insists that the agreement signed last November must be reviewed urgently.

The solicitor general’s action came against the backdrop of a story in The Nairobian of September 20-26.

In his letter, Muturi said: “We advise the ministry that the agreement should be reviewed in its entirety, in a consultative forum with all the relevant government institutions, to ensure that we create a balance between the public interest and the efficient management of the park.”

He is concerned that in the agreement, the government was not in control since both sides had four members each sitting on the AKDN board.

“This therefore makes it a private company and therefore not in the control of the Government of Kenya. Therefore it is not guaranteed that utmost interest of Kenyans is catered for in the operations of the company, because of the control that AKTC has over the company,” argues Muturi.

The Aga Khan institutions plan to reconstruct parking areas, sports centre, retail shops, restaurants, refreshments and food outlets, an environmental, educational and exhibits complex as well as other appropriate facilities in connection with the project.

“The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development should be advised that before preparing the lease in favour of NCP Service Company, approval should be sought from all the appropriate government authorities in accordance with Section 35 of the Transition to the Developed Government Act, 2012,” Muturi said.