Former Chief Justice of Kenya, David Maraga, was reportedly arrested on Monday morning during a protest against a controversial plan to develop infrastructure within Nairobi National Park.
According to footage circulating online, #Maraga was bundled into a police vehicle shortly after joining demonstrators who were opposing the proposed construction project. The former Chief Justice had arrived at the park alongside members of his campaign team, who were also seen trying to evade a police crackdown near the park’s entrance. Reports indicate that several other protesters were arrested during the operation.
The protest was organized by environmental activists and conservation groups who argue that any new development within the protected wildlife habitat could undermine conservation efforts and further fragment one of Kenya’s most important ecosystems.
The demonstrators were protesting plans linked to the proposed excision and development of land within the park, including infrastructure associated with the expansion of the Bomas of Kenya complex. Conservationists have warned that such projects could threaten wildlife corridors, biodiversity, and the ecological integrity of the park.
Witnesses said police moved in to disperse the protesters before arresting several participants, including Maraga. The arrests have drawn criticism from environmental groups and civil society organizations, which maintain that the demonstration was peaceful and aimed at protecting one of Kenya’s most iconic conservation areas.
Nairobi National Park, located on the outskirts of the capital, is the world’s only national park situated within a major city and remains a key wildlife conservation area despite increasing pressure from urban development.