Former Chief Justice David Maraga was among a group of protesters “arrested” during demonstrations opposing a government plan to excise 75 acres of land from Nairobi National Park for the construction of a parking facility linked to Bomas of Kenya.
But police denied they had arrested the group. The police said they facilitated them from the road to the station to file their petition.
“He was facilitated to the station to petition. Those who were with him joined him. No one was arrested,” said an officer at the scene.
The protesters had gathered to oppose the proposed allocation of part of the protected parkland, arguing that it would undermine conservation efforts and set a precedent for further encroachment on the country’s only national park located within a capital city.
Police moved in to disperse the demonstrators and arrested several participants, including Maraga, as tensions escalated during the protest.
They were facilitated to a waiting lorry and taken to Langata Police station where they were allowed to lodge their petition and released.
Environmental activists and civil society groups have maintained that any reduction of the park’s acreage threatens wildlife habitats and conservation gains achieved over the years.
The proposed project has sparked public debate, with conservationists calling on authorities to explore alternative sites for the planned parking facility rather than excising land from the national park.
The campaigners vowed to continue opposing any move they say could diminish the protected area.
Traffic flow on the road was affected for hours as the group said they are opposed to the move.
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