NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has engaged the Friends of Nairobi National Park (FoNNaP) over plans to upgrade and relocate the Nairobi Animal Orphanage, citing pressure on the current facility and the need to improve animal welfare and visitor experience.
KWS Director General Erustus Kanga held a consultative meeting with the conservation group at the agency’s headquarters, where the service presented a master plan for the proposed upgraded orphanage.
The engagement focused on addressing stakeholder concerns and strengthening collaboration over the future of Nairobi National Park.
According to KWS, the existing orphanage has become overstretched due to increasing numbers of rescued animals, rising visitor traffic, and growing demand for conservation education, particularly from school groups.
The agency said these pressures have necessitated relocation to a larger and more suitable site.
Officials said the proposed location, near the Galleria–Bomas area within a grassland glade, was identified through what KWS described as a rigorous scientific and multi-agency process.
The service maintained that construction would not affect the park’s upland forest and would involve the removal of only a minimal number of invasive eucalyptus trees previously earmarked for clearing.
KWS said the new site would offer additional space, improved accessibility, enhanced animal welfare conditions, and expanded education facilities. The planned upgrade is also expected to strengthen wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations while improving visitor management.
The agency projects that the upgraded orphanage will create more than 500 jobs and increase capacity to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors daily, supported by parking for approximately 1,300 vehicles.
Officials said the facility is intended to position Nairobi as a leading global conservation hub while supporting tourism and environmental education.
The engagement with FoNNaP forms part of broader stakeholder consultations as KWS seeks to build consensus around the project. The service emphasized that partnerships based on trust, transparency, and shared conservation objectives are central to the initiative.
KWS said it remains open to continued dialogue with stakeholders, noting that the success of the upgraded orphanage depends on collaborative planning and alignment with conservation priorities.
