Nairobi Landmarks- August 7th Memorial Park

[InnocensiaO]

This is a memorial park that commemorates the 1998 bombing of the U.S Embassy in Nairobi where 218 people perished. The park also has a visitor center that doubles as a memorial peace museum which preserves the happenings of that day through the documentation of photos, videos and survivor stories.

I vividly remember this day as I was 9 years old and we had just closed school for the August holidays. I remember hearing a loud bang and seeing smoke emerging from the Nairobi Central Business District area which was about 7 kilometers from where we stayed.

The creation of the park was a collaborative effort of the Government of Kenya, Government of the United States of America, individuals, institutions and associations inside and outside Kenya.

Today, the park offers a space for relaxing , reflection and peace advocacy for its visitors everyday day of the year. The grounds are also usually rented out for various events. A fee of Kshs. 30 ($0.30) is usually charged to access the park and Kshs. 100($1) for entering the Memorial Peace Museum. These fees go towards maintenance of the park.

Memorial Peace MuseumAugust 7th Memorial ParkWall of NmaesMemorial GardensMemorial Peace Museum

[AlexaAC]

Hey @InnocensiaO,

Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed reading about this remarkable way of spreading the message of peace. I remember that day and when it was announced. I will for sure make a point of visiting the memorial park, on my next trip. Do you get the chance to visit often? 

[InnocensiaO]

@AlexaAC  please do visit the next time you are in the city. 

The park is just a block away from my office so I go to the garden often to relax and decompress during my lunch break. It offers serenity as it is located in one of the busiest parts of the Nairobi CBD. 

[AlexaAC]

Excellent @InnocensiaO!

Sounds amazing, thanks again for sharing! 🙂 

[InnocensiaO]

@AlexaAC  Welcome. 

Thanks for taking the time to read. 

[Tula]

Great Post @InnocensiaO   I remember the bombing because the bombing in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam happened simultaneously although here in Dar es Salaam there were less fatalities. Sadly the Embassy here in Tanzania was moved to another location and the building was renovated and changed to KCB Main branch but some of the remains of the ambassadors Jeep and the bullet proof windows were salvaged and kept on display at the national Museum. I was actually planning on visiting the museum next weekend so it can be a good follow-up post from your East African counterpart 🙂

[InnocensiaO]

@Tula thank you. Yeah I remember it was twin bombing in Dar and Nairobi. 

Can’t wait to read about the follow up post.