Former Chief Justice David Maraga was arrested on Monday, June 8, during a police crackdown on demonstrators protesting the proposed excision of 76 acres from Nairobi National Park.
This move has sparked renewed outrage among conservationists and civil society groups.
Maraga, who has recently emerged as a vocal defender of constitutionalism, governance, and environmental protection, joined activists gathered outside the park to oppose plans they say threaten one of Kenya’s most important wildlife sanctuaries.
Protesters argued that carving out part of the protected ecosystem would set a dangerous precedent and accelerate the gradual encroachment of conservation land.
Tension escalated when police moved in to disperse the crowd.
Videos widely shared online showed Maraga and members of his team attempting to evade the looming crackdown before officers bundled the former chief justice into a police vehicle.
Several other activists were also arrested during the operation.
The arrests immediately sparked criticism from environmental groups, who described the demonstration as a peaceful effort to defend a national treasure.
Conservationists have long warned that Nairobi National Park, already hemmed in by rapid urban growth and infrastructure expansion, faces mounting pressure from land grabs and shrinking wildlife corridors.
At the heart of the dispute is a proposal to allocate part of the park’s land, a plan opponents say could undermine biodiversity, tourism, and Kenya’s global conservation reputation.
Activists demanded the immediate suspension of any changes to the park’s boundaries and accused authorities of weakening environmental safeguards.
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By Monday afternoon, authorities had not publicly indicated whether Maraga or the other protesters would face charges, but the dramatic arrest has already transformed the land dispute into a high-profile national confrontation over conservation, public participation, and the future of Nairobi National Park.
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