Maraga arrested as park protest erupts in chaos

A planned protest against the proposed excision of Nairobi National Park was abruptly halted yesterday after the arrest of former Chief Justice David Maraga and nine other demonstrators, sparking outrage from environmentalists and human rights groups.

The procession, organised by a coalition of conservation and civil society organisations, was intended to highlight concerns over plans to carve out nearly 90 acres of the park for infrastructure linked to the Bomas International Convention Centre.

Instead, it ended in chaos after plainclothes officers arrested protesters along Lang’ata Road, about a kilometre from the Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters.

“The use of force against citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, expression and public participation is unacceptable,” said Nyaguthii Chege, Board Chairperson of the Green Belt Movement.

“These arrests and intimidation represent a dangerous assault on civic space and democratic participation,” he continued.

Irungu Houghton said the protest had been lawful and peaceful before police moved in. Protesters were thrown onto the tarmac before being bundled into a waiting police lorry.

“The procession started with the full cooperation of the National Police Service. We engaged senior officers in the morning and received approval. Then suddenly, individuals in plainclothes appeared, with faces covered and no identification,” he said.

He added that the group would continue opposing the project.

“Despite the tear gas and arrests, Nairobi National Park is not for sale. Our public spaces and rights cannot be traded away behind closed doors,” he said.

Maraga’s bodyguards were among those arrested. While other protesters were detained at Lang’ata Police Station, the former Chief Justice was held at the station but not placed in a cell. He was released yesterday evening from police custody.

Before the procession was halted, conservation activists had gathered near the proposed site along Magadi Road to protest what they described as growing encroachment on protected green spaces.

At the centre of the dispute is the proposed excision of 75 acres within the park, reportedly to relocate the Nairobi Animal Orphanage.

Critics argue the plan is intended to facilitate the construction of a 1,300-vehicle parking facility for the Bomas International Convention Centre.

The organisers said the project is being advanced without proper public participation or environmental impact assessment processes.

“We are told this is about convenience and growth, but at what cost? Nairobi National Park is a living ecosystem, not empty land for development,” said Chege.

She warned that the proposal reflects a broader pattern of encroachment into forests and parks nationwide, including Karura Forest, Aberdare National Park, Imenti Forest and Ngong Road Forest.

She cited proposals for a highway through Aberdare National Park, excision of 51.64 acres from Karura Forest for Kiambu Road expansion, construction of a hotel in Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary, and plans for a VIP access road linking Ngong Road to the Bomas complex.

She also pointed to threats to Uhuru Park and plans to excise 200 acres of Meru’s Ementi Forest for an airstrip, golf course and state lodge.

“Piece by piece, acre by acre, our forests and parks are being turned into construction sites,” she said.

The group had planned to march to the KWS main gate and present tree seedlings, urging the agency to plant them in already cleared sections instead of proceeding with further development.

Maraga questioned the rationale behind the project.

“Are we going to pursue development at the expense of our environment? This project is essentially for a parking facility for Bomas International Convention Centre,” he said.

Akshay Vishwanath of Just Act challenged claims that due process had been followed, describing it as procedural rather than substantive.

He said relocating the orphanage did not justify the use of protected land.

“It does not need to take prime natural habitat from a protected area,” he said. “The justification that only a small portion is affected ignores cumulative environmental loss.”

At Lang’ata Police Station, Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama said unidentified officers had been deployed from elsewhere, allegedly under “orders from above”.

“What is most discouraging is that even escorting officers were mishandled by plainclothes individuals. We still do not know who they are,” he said.

He added that the arrested individuals were not booked in the Occurrence Book.

“They were taken directly to cells, contrary to police standing orders,” he said.

Kanjama further stated that Maraga had not been formally booked.

“They told us the Chief Justice Emeritus was not under arrest, yet he was brought here alongside others. Either all are charged, or all are released,” he said.