Former Kenyan Chief Justice David Maraga has been arrested while taking part in a protest against developments planned near Nairobi National Park, including allegations that a large car park could be built on protected conservation land.
Maraga joined a group of activists marching along a road near the park in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The 117-square-kilometre wildlife sanctuary is one of the country’s most important conservation areas and a major tourist attraction.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which manages the park, has been accused by campaigners of allocating part of the land to a neighbouring convention centre and planning to build a new animal orphanage within the protected area. KWS has strongly defended the project.
According to the agency, the expanded and relocated orphanage would improve animal welfare, veterinary training, and visitor experiences. Officials say the facility would occupy 89 acres, representing just 0.31% of the park’s total area.
Videos shared on social media showed police dispersing Monday’s protest and detaining demonstrators who had gathered on a highway near the park. Maraga, wearing the colours of his United Green Movement party, was seen being escorted into a police vehicle as supporters chanted, “Long live the park.”
Maraga and nine other protesters were arrested during the demonstration. Although he has since been released, the former chief justice reportedly refused to leave the police station until the remaining activists were freed.
Kenyan police have not issued an official statement regarding the arrests.
In a post on X, Maraga said he had been detained alongside fellow citizens who were attempting to deliver a petition to KWS opposing the construction of a proposed 1,300-space car park.
“Our national heritage and environment must be safeguarded from greed and unnecessary destruction without public participation,” he said.
Environmental campaigners argue that the proposed developments could threaten protected land within the park and open the door to further construction projects in the future.
Located just 10 kilometres from Nairobi’s city centre, Nairobi National Park is home to lions, buffalos, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs and other wildlife. It is widely regarded as the world’s only safari park situated within a capital city.
While KWS has defended plans for the new orphanage and said public consultations were conducted, it has not publicly addressed allegations concerning the proposed car park.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International strongly condemned the arrests, describing the demonstrators as peaceful protesters and criticising what it called a violent police response.
In a joint statement with environmental groups, Amnesty said the use of force against citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, free expression, and public participation was unacceptable.
The statement was also signed by several environmental organisations, including Greenpeace Africa, Friends of Nairobi National Park, and The Green Belt Movement.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
