NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has been accused of blocking petitioners and restricting access during a court-ordered site visit to Nairobi National Park in a case challenging ongoing developments within the protected area.
The co-petitioners, who are part of a citizen-led case filed by more than 4,600 Kenyans against the government over alleged destruction of Nairobi National Park, said they were denied entry into the park despite an order by the Environment and Land Court allowing parties to participate in the visit.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the petitioners said the court had on July 15 directed the Deputy Registrar to visit the park in the presence of all parties and prepare a report before the matter proceeds for hearing on July 23.
The court order was issued in a case seeking to hold the government accountable and halt developments within Nairobi National Park.
According to the petitioners, they arrived at the park at the scheduled time but were allegedly confronted by masked and armed KWS personnel who prevented them from accessing the site.
The group claimed the situation escalated when the officers attempted to remove them from the KWS headquarters premises.
“The co-petitioners arrived at the park at the designated time, only to be subjected to intimidation and threats by masked, armed service personnel of KWS,” the statement read.
The petitioners questioned why KWS allowed media representatives to attend the site visit while restricting access for the citizens who filed the case.
“What possible sense does it make to block the co-petitioners from being part of the site visit, yet openly inviting the media to be part of the same?” they posed.
They accused KWS of attempting to control the narrative surrounding the court proceedings and limit public scrutiny of developments within the park.
The group said they were eventually allowed into the park only after court officials, KWS representatives, members of the media, and the petitioners’ legal representative had completed the site inspection.
The petitioners further accused KWS of undermining transparency, public participation and respect for court orders.
“Yesterday’s incident and conduct by KWS is indicative of their continued lack of transparency, contempt for public participation, and a disposition to use force when they don’t get their way,” they said.
They also linked the incident to previous confrontations involving protests against developments within Nairobi National Park, including arrests of demonstrators.
The petitioners called on the courts to ensure government institutions respect judicial orders and protect citizens’ constitutional right to hold public agencies accountable.
The Environment and Land Court case is among the largest citizen-led legal challenges involving Nairobi National Park, with thousands of Kenyans seeking judicial intervention over activities they argue threaten the future of the protected ecosystem.