Human rights and environmental organisations have condemned the arrest of former Chief Justice David Maraga and several activists during demonstrations opposing the proposed excision of land from Nairobi National Park.
In a joint statement, the coalition described the arrests as an attack on the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble peacefully and participate in decisions affecting public resources. The organisations insisted that peaceful demonstrations should be protected rather than suppressed.
The protesters had gathered to oppose plans to carve out approximately 76 acres of the park for the proposed Bomas International Convention Centre project, which includes the construction of a large parking facility. Conservation advocates argue that the move could threaten wildlife habitats and set a precedent for further encroachment into the country's only national park located within a capital city.
The coalition urged authorities to release all those arrested without conditions and called for transparent public participation before any decisions affecting the protected area are implemented. It also demanded that environmental concerns surrounding the proposed project be fully addressed through the relevant legal and regulatory processes.
Maraga later confirmed that he had been detained while taking part in a procession intended to deliver a petition to the Kenya Wildlife Service opposing the planned land excision.
The incident has intensified debate over environmental conservation, civic freedoms, and public participation, with campaigners insisting that the protection of Nairobi National Park should remain a national priority.
