Former Kenya Chief Justice arrested during Nairobi park protest

Kenya’s former Chief Justice David Maraga has been arrested during a protest over controversial development plans affecting Nairobi National Park.

Mr Maraga was detained on Monday alongside nine other demonstrators while marching near the park, one of Kenya’s best-known conservation sites and a major tourist attraction within the capital.

The protesters were opposing what activists say is a plan to construct a large car park on protected land belonging to the wildlife sanctuary.

They also raised concerns over proposals by the Kenya Wildlife Service to relocate and expand an animal orphanage inside the park.

Videos shared on social media showed police dispersing the demonstrators, some of whom had sat in the middle of a two-lane road.

Mr Maraga, dressed in the colours of his United Green Movement party, was seen being helped into the back of a police lorry as protesters shouted in defence of the park.

He has since been released but has reportedly refused to leave the police station until the other detained activists are freed.

The former Chief Justice, who is expected to contest Kenya’s 2027 presidential election, later said on X that he had been arrested with “fellow patriotic Kenyans” while seeking to present a petition to the Kenya Wildlife Service.

According to him, the petition opposed the proposed construction of a car park said to have capacity for 1,300 vehicles.

“Our national heritage and environment must be safeguarded from greed and unnecessary destruction without public participation,” he wrote.

The Kenya Wildlife Service has not directly commented on the car park allegation.

However, it has defended its plan to build a new and expanded animal orphanage within Nairobi National Park.

The agency says the project will improve animal welfare, strengthen veterinary training and enhance the experience of visitors.

A KWS official quoted by local media said the orphanage would occupy 89 acres, representing about 0.31% of the park’s total land area.

Nairobi National Park covers about 117 sq km and is home to wildlife including lions, rhinos, giraffes and buffaloes.

It is one of the few national parks in the world located within a capital city.

Human rights group Amnesty International has condemned the arrests and described the police action as a violent dispersal of peaceful protesters.

In a joint statement with environmental groups, including Greenpeace Africa, Friends of Nairobi National Park and the Green Belt Movement, Amnesty said the use of force against citizens exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and public participation was unacceptable.

Police have not yet issued an official statement on the arrests.