NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Chief Justice David Maraga was on Monday morning arrested during a protest against proposed infrastructure expansion inside Nairobi National Park, triggering fresh debate over conservation, public participation, and land use within protected areas.
Footage shared by Y News shows Maraga alongside activists and members of his campaign team near the park, moments before he was reportedly bundled into a police vehicle. Several other protesters were also said to have been arrested during the operation.
Authorities had not immediately issued an official statement confirming the arrest at the time of publication.
The protest was linked to ongoing works led by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which is clearing approximately 76 acres of indigenous upland forest within the park. The project follows approval by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), which issued a licence allowing conversion of 31 hectares previously classified as a protected Low Use Zone.
According to project outlines, the cleared land is intended to host a relocated Nairobi Animal Orphanage. The new facility is expected to include modern wildlife hospital infrastructure and expanded enclosures designed to simulate more natural habitats for rescued animals.
The broader development also includes an 8-acre parking facility meant to serve both the orphanage and the nearby KSh 41.9 billion Bomas International Convention Centre. In addition, a pedestrian overpass across Lang’ata Road is planned to connect the park’s conservation zone to the commercial complex.
However, the project has sparked strong opposition from conservationists and environmental groups, who argue that the scale of construction threatens a fragile ecosystem within one of the world’s only urban national parks.
Critics have raised concerns about whether the clearance complies with park zoning regulations and long-term conservation principles. They argue that even partial conversion of protected land risks setting a precedent for further commercial encroachment into wildlife habitats.
Friends of Nairobi National Park has since escalated the matter to the Senate and filed petitions before the High Court. The group is challenging what it terms irregular approvals, inadequate public participation, and potential breaches of environmental protection laws governing the park.
The involvement of Maraga, a former head of Kenya’s Judiciary, has added legal and constitutional weight to the protest. His participation is expected to intensify scrutiny of regulatory approvals issued by environmental and wildlife agencies, particularly around transparency and adherence to statutory consultation requirements.
At the heart of the dispute is a broader national tension between infrastructure expansion and conservation priorities, especially in rapidly urbanising zones around Nairobi.
Supporters of the project argue that modern facilities are necessary to improve animal welfare, tourism infrastructure, and visitor safety. Opponents, however, maintain that Nairobi National Park must remain strictly protected, warning that incremental development could irreversibly alter its ecological balance.
More details are expected as authorities clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest and the status of those detained.
