Former CJ Maraga Detained as Police Move on Nairobi National Park Protest Over Parking Lot Plans

Former Chief Justice David Maraga found himself in police custody on Monday, June 8, shortly after joining protesters outside Nairobi National Park. The demonstration targeted ongoing clearance work linked to new construction inside the park boundaries.

Footage circulating from the scene shows Maraga and members of his team seeking cover as officers moved in. Several other protesters were arrested alongside him. Police also seized equipment from journalists attempting to document the activity, according to former BBC correspondent Ian Wafula.

"We found evidence of construction going on inside the Nairobi National Park, but KWS just confiscated our drone," Wafula stated. "Protests by lobby groups and environmentalists are going on over the construction."

Kenya Wildlife Service is clearing roughly 76 acres of indigenous upland forest. The work follows a National Environment Management Authority licence that approved conversion of 31 hectares previously designated as a protected Low Use Zone.

The cleared area will accommodate a relocated Nairobi Animal Orphanage equipped with modern wildlife hospital facilities and more naturalistic enclosures. Planners have also allocated an eight-acre parking lot to serve both the orphanage and the adjacent Bomas International Convention Centre.

A pedestrian overpass across Lang'ata Road is part of the scheme, intended to connect the new conservation space directly to the commercial complex. The Ksh41.9 billion convention centre project has drawn particular attention in debates over balancing development needs with park protection.

Conservation advocates argue the clearing endangers fragile ecosystems and contravenes existing park zoning. Friends of Nairobi National Park has petitioned the Senate and initiated High Court proceedings, citing concerns over procurement processes and insufficient public consultation.

Nairobi National Park holds unique status as the only national park situated within a capital city anywhere in the world. Its proximity to urban infrastructure has long created tensions between conservation priorities and pressures for expanded visitor facilities and commercial linkages.

Maraga, who retired from the judiciary in January 2021, has become a visible participant in various public demonstrations. His involvement this time underscores broader questions about how major infrastructure decisions in sensitive ecological zones are reached and communicated.

The incident comes against a backdrop of ongoing disputes over land use in protected areas. Critics of the park project question whether commercial considerations are overshadowing long-term environmental safeguards.

Authorities have not yet issued a detailed statement on the arrests or the precise legal basis for detaining Maraga and the other protesters. Developments around the construction site and any court challenges are expected to unfold rapidly in the coming days.

The episode highlights persistent friction points in Kenya's infrastructure sector where ambitious development goals intersect with conservation mandates and public accountability demands. Construction professionals and environmental regulators will be watching closely for signals on how such conflicts are resolved going forward.

This report draws from coverage by Kenyans.co.ke.