Former Kenyan Chief Justice David Maraga was arrested on Monday during a protest opposing plans to excise part of Nairobi National Park for infrastructure development linked to the expansion of Bomas of Kenya.
Maraga was detained while participating in a procession along Lang’ata Road near Bomas of Kenya, where demonstrators had gathered to present a petition to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) over the proposed allocation of 76 acres of park land.
The contested land is earmarked for the expansion of the Ksh41.9 billion Bomas of Kenya project and the relocation of the Nairobi Animal Orphanage, a plan that has triggered strong opposition from conservationists and civil society groups.
Eyewitness accounts and activist reports indicate that plain-clothed police officers moved in during the demonstration, arresting Maraga alongside several other protesters.
According to activist Njeri Mwangi, at least nine demonstrators were taken to Lang’ata Police Station following the operation.
“We know they plan to use 76 acres to build a parking space, and it should not happen because there was no public participation. We came here to stop the action,” she said, adding that the group had not been informed of any formal charges.
Video footage shared online showed Maraga being escorted into a police vehicle while holding twigs and wearing a green T-shirt associated with the United Green Movement party. Protesters chanted “Long live the park” as they were taken away.
Maraga was later released but reportedly refused to leave Lang’ata Police Station until all detained activists were freed.
“I will not leave this station until all those detained are released,” he said.
The protest has intensified scrutiny of the proposed redevelopment of Bomas of Kenya into a modern convention facility, part of a wider government plan estimated at Ksh42 billion.
Members of Kenya’s National Assembly Tourism and Wildlife Committee have previously questioned the scale and cost of the project, citing concerns about transparency and value for money.
Conservation groups argue that the excision of land from Nairobi National Park could damage a globally recognised urban wildlife habitat and undermine Kenya’s environmental commitments.
Maraga, who has announced his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, has recently been active in civic protests, including earlier demonstrations against gender-based violence in Nairobi.
The latest incident adds to the growing public debate in Kenya over balancing urban development with environmental conservation and public participation in decision-making processes.
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