NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Chief Justice David Maraga was among several environmental activists arrested on Monday during protests against the proposed excision of 76 acres of protected land within Nairobi National Park.
The demonstrators had gathered to oppose the planned allocation of part of the parkland, arguing that it would undermine conservation efforts and set a precedent for further encroachment into protected ecosystems.
They called for the immediate suspension of any process to alter the park’s boundaries, accusing authorities of weakening environmental safeguards.
Witnesses said police moved in to disperse the protesters before arresting several participants, including Maraga, as tensions escalated during the demonstration.
The arrests drew swift criticism from environmental and civil society groups, who described the protest as peaceful and focused on protecting one of Kenya’s most sensitive ecological zones.
Maraga, who has in recent years become an outspoken voice on governance, constitutionalism, and environmental protection, has frequently weighed in on issues related to accountability and the rule of law.
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Nairobi National Park, located on the outskirts of the capital, remains one of Kenya’s most iconic conservation areas, hosting a wide range of wildlife species despite mounting pressure from rapid urban expansion, infrastructure development, and land-use change.
Environmentalists have consistently warned that continued fragmentation of wildlife corridors and protected ecosystems could have long-term consequences for biodiversity, tourism revenues, and Kenya’s broader conservation record.
The planned excision has therefore reignited a longstanding national debate over the balance between development priorities and environmental protection, particularly in fast-growing urban centres like Nairobi.
