Protests against a controversial redevelopment plan at Nairobi National Park escalated sharply when police deployed tear gas and detained several demonstrators, including former Chief Justice David Maraga. The confrontation occurred at the park’s main entrance as activists voiced strong opposition to a project they say threatens protected public land.
The redevelopment plan involves expanding Nairobi’s Animal Orphanage and creating a sizable new parking area, which critics argue will encroach on the park's natural habitat. Environmental advocates carrying placards declaring “Nature is not vacant land” rallied to safeguard the park, a rare wildlife reserve located just outside the capital city’s business district.
Nairobi National Park, Kenya’s first national park established in the mid-20th century, spans approximately 117 square kilometers and is notable for its unique location near an urban center. It provides habitat to iconic species such as rhinos, lions, and leopards against Nairobi’s skyline, making it a significant ecological and tourist landmark.
The Kenya Wildlife Service, responsible for the park, defended the plan by emphasizing that the Animal Orphanage, which has occupied a small section of the park since 1964, will be relocated to a substantially larger site across from the Bomas of Kenya. Authorities assert this move aims at improving animal rescue, rehabilitation, and visitor education without reducing park land.
However, protesters remain unconvinced, viewing the development as another example of urban expansion encroaching on vital ecological spaces. The arrest of a prominent figure like Maraga has amplified the dispute’s profile, highlighting broader tensions over public land governance and the limits placed on civic dissent in Kenya. His involvement underlines how environmental conflicts are increasingly entwined with political and social debates.