Ronald Otieno
‘Jamhuri Recreational Garden park’ formerly known as ‘Kisumu Victoria park’ was a place to be when I was growing up.
I remember vividly how me and my school mates used to have plans to be there whenever the schools were almost breaking up for half terms or maybe fee breaks, where we hung out and made new friends and courted puppy love.
Not just that, students from schools outside the city and friends had something to share whenever stories came up about this place which showed how popular it was.
Date experience
My First encounter at the park which I may say was deliberate and planed was on a half term break immediately after joining high school. My friend invited me over to a photoshoot that he had booked with some famous photographer from the lake region.
Before then, all I had heard about the park were those stories that my older siblings would have come back home with from the events that took place there, the photos that they would show me and contents they did at the park gave me more admiration to be there.
But after I discovered this space it became a personal favourite, I went for dates, business meet ups, did my first paying outdoor photography which was my cousin and my sister in law who happened to be dating, I have always found that to be pretty funny but life happens at times.
Did freestyle rap battles with upcoming Kisumu artists which some now are really popular and most of all learnt my filming outdoor skills from this place.
I had quite an experience with this place until it got closed by the Kisumu County government.
Land grab
Rumour had it that the land might be grabbed, some speculated that some serious government offices were to be built in that place and of course also we had that it needed some new renovation to meet up the current social class standard.
Time went by, it got closed and the only thing that was visible from outside the fence was daily labor and constructions. It was easy to conclude that structures were to be erected inside the space.
On April 30th 2024 this Versatile facility had a grand opening by the Kisumu county governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyongo’ and for sure it gave smiles on people’s faces. It wasn’t the park they used to come to nor see from far or hear about, It featured so much compared to how the residents knew it.
They went ahead and planted fresh grass, constructed new swimming pool, a classy restaurant, chilling benches and some clean walkways with much bigger spaces.
Now it is quite clear to what vision the Kisumu county government had with then ‘Victoria Park’ and thanks to them we have a marvelous and admirable park to create more memories with and also for the upcoming generation having something delightful space as this to be part of their city, the ‘Jamhuri recreational garden park.’
