Kenya's former Chief Justice David Maraga was arrested Monday along with at least eight others while protesting plans to build a car park and an animal orphanage inside Nairobi National Park in the capital, Nairobi [1, 2]. The protest took place near the park’s main entrance against developments proposed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) [1, 2].
The KWS plans include constructing a large animal orphanage on 89 acres, about 0.31% of the park’s total 117 square kilometers, and allocating land to a neighboring convention center [1]. Activists also oppose a parking area inside the park designed to hold approximately 1,300 vehicles [1, 2].
Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators and arrested Maraga during a sit-in on a major road near the park. Maraga was later released but refused to leave the police station until the other activists were freed [1, 2]. Affiliated with the United Green Movement party, Maraga intends to run for president in Kenya’s 2027 election [1].
KWS said the orphanage relocation and expansion aims to improve animal welfare, veterinary training, and visitor experience. The agency said it consulted the public about the orphanage but has not commented on the proposed car park [1].
Amnesty International condemned the arrests and use of force against peaceful protesters, calling it "unacceptable" to target citizens exercising constitutional rights to assembly and expression [1].
Protesters gathered on August 28 to oppose the development inside Nairobi National Park. The demonstration escalated to police action involving tear gas and arrests, including Maraga’s [1, 2]. The future of the park and the planned construction remain unresolved as public objections continue.
