Kenya Arrests Ex-Chief Justice David Maraga at Nairobi Park Protest Over 1,300-Vehicle Car Park
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 8
Kenya Arrests Ex-Chief Justice David Maraga at Nairobi Park Protest Over 1,300-Vehicle Car Park
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 8
Summary
David Maraga and nine others were arrested Monday during a protest near Nairobi National Park over alleged plans to build a 1,300-vehicle car park on protected land; Maraga was later released but stayed at the police station.
The protest targeted Kenya Wildlife Service plans affecting the park, including a relocated animal orphanage that KWS says would occupy 89 acres—0.31% of the 117-sq-km reserve—and improve animal welfare, training and visitor access.
Social media videos showed police breaking up demonstrators sitting on a highway, while Maraga said the group had sought to deliver a petition against construction carried out without adequate public participation.
Amnesty International, Greenpeace Africa and other environmental groups condemned what they called a violent dispersal of peaceful protesters, widening scrutiny of development inside one of Nairobi's best-known conservation sites.
Is Kenya sacrificing its iconic national park for a car park, sparking the arrest of a former Chief Justice?
Kenya is a global climate leader, so why is it accused of destroying its own national park for development?
76 Acres at Stake: Nairobi National Park, Maraga’s Arrest, and the Fight for Kenya’s Environmental Future
Overview
On June 8, 2026, former Chief Justice David Maraga and eight activists were arrested during a large protest against the planned excision of 76 acres from Nairobi National Park and the relocation of an orphanage. Protesters described these actions as an attempt to grab public land, highlighting that the park was once again under threat. The arrests quickly drew widespread criticism from conservation groups, civil society, and human rights advocates, who demanded the immediate release of those detained. This incident intensified national debate over balancing development with environmental protection and constitutional rights in Kenya.