Memorial Park

Undiscovered treasures of Kenya's Memorial Park

By Erick Diang'a

 When US Embassy in Kenya fell victim of retaliatory terrorist attack in 1998, the former rebranded to August 7^th Memorial Park and Museum under trustees’ tenure. Despite the ordeal, the newly branded Park has sailed with peace as the wind behind the yacht.

 Evidently, corporate bodies, peace activists and well wishers have since visited the Park for revival activities. In fact, a lot has been done to boost forgiveness and limit absentmindedness of the tragedy in a way to remember lives lost in the blast.

For good reasons, Memorial Park and Museum has extensively existed as the unsurpassed place one would be in awe of. Fatalities, notwithstanding, the park has gained momentum in terms of developing peace among individuals through noble trainings that bring about transformation of ideas.

The place is no longer a crime scene but a memorial garden where people meet with loved ones to support, remember and reflect peace. The new brand tends to propose good tidings after the aftermath of 1998 bombing. Personal intellect will substantially clarify the fact that people of all races visiting the park, is a vivid indication that rebranding has united individuals from all walks of life. Were the park not the ideal place, conference and corporate meetings would have not occurred in this place of maximum serenity.

The trust has established avenues through which Kenyan youths can earn a living; Memorial Park appreciates arts and exhibitions implemented by interested youths who come and present various artistic performances in the park. Most places within Nairobi City will at times be deficient in someone to check on them but, at the Park, the statement has no room; no single day will the sun set without people visiting the memorial park for various reasons ranging from research to commemorations. Memorial garden is the peaceful place for meditations, having a break and even watching renovating performances (gospel songs, dances, weddings and pageantry).

“Seconds from disaster” is a movie technically produced to educate Kenyans on how peaceful it would be if people conducted themselves in a manner that shuns terrorism and ill will emanating from conspiracy. The movie theatre is located at the audiovisual room adjacent to the Memorial Park Museum; the museum has souvenir gallery that displays significant events pre and past 1998 in both pictorial and curatorial. Most prominent world leaders including Barack Obama have placed wreaths at the memorial wall foundation as commemoration and condemnation of global terror acts. Symbolically, museum has 218 flags representing each life lost in the attack, peace arts crafted by children and photographs depicting the former state of the Embassy prior to the ordeal.

Administration office is separated from the Memorial garden by a pathway décor that leads visitors to a circular storey building – most people have found it difficult locating the block. The offices will bequeath you with relevant information concerning conference halls hiring and much more.

The August 7th Memorial Park stands at the site of that terrible tragedy as a memorial to all those who lost their lives, and a tribute to the courage of the several thousand others who have had to cope with permanent injury and/or the loss of loved ones. The Memorial Park is a place where people come to reflect, remember and relax.  The Trust was also set up with the object of fostering goodwill and peace among men with a view of preventing a repeat attack, and has set up a Visitors Memorial Peace Centre where school students and the public are taught the importance of living in harmony with each other, their neighbors, and the need to condemn acts of violence in society so that peace can prevail.