By Mumo Judah
June 8, 2026
Former Chief Justice David Maraga was on Monday morning, June 8, 2026, arrested alongside several environmental activists during a protest at the main entrance of Nairobi National Park along Lang’ata Road, over a disputed land excision plan inside the protected ecosystem.
Maraga was among demonstrators who had gathered to oppose a development project approved by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), which has triggered widespread criticism from conservation groups, civil society organizations, and members of the public.
Police officers moved in shortly after the former Chief Justice arrived at the scene, where activists had begun mobilizing against what they termed an environmentally harmful development. Maraga and several others were bundled into a police vehicle and taken away as officers dispersed the gathering.
At the centre of the dispute is a plan to convert 31 hectares (approximately 76 acres) of land within a designated low-use zone of the park. The area is set to be cleared to create an 8-acre parking facility linked to the proposed KSh 41.9 billion Bomas International Convention Centre. The broader project also includes relocation works for the Nairobi Animal Orphanage and the construction of a modern wildlife hospital within the expanded infrastructure zone.
Environmental stakeholders argue that the project could fragment the park’s ecosystem, disrupt wildlife movement, and undermine long-standing conservation protections that have safeguarded the area for decades.
As police dispersed the protest, activists and members of the public condemned the manner of the arrests, maintaining that the demonstration had been peaceful. One eyewitness, Sammy Mwololo, expressed shock at the arrest of the former Chief Justice, stating: “If a former Chief Justice can be arrested so easily, then ordinary citizens must be very cautious.”
Civil society organizations also issued strong statements calling for the immediate suspension of any plans to alter the boundaries of the national park, arguing that environmental laws must be strictly upheld.
The incident marks a continuation of Maraga’s increasingly visible role in civic activism since leaving the judiciary. As a senior figure in the United Green Movement Party, he has become a vocal advocate on issues of constitutionalism, land governance, and environmental protection.
In earlier remarks on civic freedoms, Maraga had criticized excessive force during public demonstrations, stating: “Security agencies are undermining democratic rights by dispersing peaceful gatherings. Outdated methods cannot change the country’s political direction.”
Security agencies have not yet issued a detailed statement regarding the arrest as investigations into the protest continue.
