Public green space is a shrinking resource across much of Nairobi's Eastlands, and a modest patch in Umoja, one of the few left in its immediate area, is currently facing encroachment pressure that residents have flagged to us directly.
What our role looks like here
Our role here is less about direct intervention and more about organised advocacy: documenting the space's current condition and use, gathering resident testimony on why it matters to the neighbourhood, and raising the matter formally with the relevant local authorities as our Constitution's objectives on green space protection commit us to do. That documentation work matters more than it might sound, a clear record of how a space is actually used by residents carries more weight in these conversations than a general objection after the fact.
We've spoken with several residents who use the space regularly, for children to play, for informal gatherings, as one of the only patches of shade and open ground within walking distance in that immediate area, and we're compiling that testimony alongside site photos as part of the case we're building.
Why we're acting now rather than later
Public green spaces rarely get defended until they're already gone. We'd rather make the case for this one while it's still intact, in partnership with the residents who actually use it day to day, than attempt to reverse encroachment after construction has already begun, which is a far harder and less certain fight.
If you're a resident near this space, or know of a similar green space elsewhere in Embakasi East facing similar pressure, we'd welcome hearing from you through our Contact page. Resident testimony is genuinely the most useful thing we can add to a case like this.