NAIROBI — David Maraga, former chief justice of Kenya, was arrested on Monday while participating in a sit-in protest outside the main gate of Nairobi National Park. He was later detained by authorities and released from custody.
Maraga participated in the protest alongside other activists, wearing a green T-shirt matching those of his fellow protesters. Hundreds of activists gathered to protest planned construction inside Nairobi National Park, characterizing the project as an attempt to appropriate public land. Police authorities have not issued a public statement regarding the reason for the arrest.
Maraga stated on the social media platform X that he was detained while traveling to deliver a petition to the Kenya Wildlife Service. Maraga said, "Our national heritage and environment must be safeguarded from greed and unnecessary destruction without public participation."
Amnesty International in Kenya issued a statement expressing solidarity with the protesters. The organization called for public inclusion in decisions regarding the country’s environmental heritage. The organization said, "We want to categorically state that Nairobi National Park is not for sale; our public spaces, our environment, and our rights cannot be traded away behind closed doors."
The Kenya Wildlife Service issued a public defense of the construction project on Sunday. The service stated that the construction is part of a plan to expand an existing orphanage and aims to improve the visitor experience at the park. The service denied allegations that the construction project constitutes unauthorized land acquisition.