Former Chief Justice David Maraga was allegedly arrested on Monday alongside environmental activists protesting the planned excision of 76 acres of protected land within Nairobi National Park.
The demonstrators had assembled to oppose the proposed allocation of a portion of the park, arguing that it endangers wildlife conservation efforts and may establish a precedent for the gradual encroachment of protected areas.
Activists said the authorities were weakening environmental laws and demanded that all plans to change the park’s boundaries be stopped immediately.
Videos circulating online show police moving in to disperse the protesters and arrest several participants, including David Maraga, who has recently been vocal on issues of governance, constitutionalism, and environmental protection.
The arrests prompted criticism from conservation groups and civil society organisations, who described the demonstration as peaceful and aimed at defending one of Kenya’s most significant wildlife habitats.
Nairobi National Park, situated just outside the capital, remains a key conservation area hosting a wide range of wildlife species despite increasing pressure from urban expansion and infrastructure development.
Environmentalists have consistently warned against the fragmentation of wildlife corridors and protected ecosystems, arguing that continued excision of protected land could have adverse effects on biodiversity, tourism, and conservation efforts in Kenya.
