Kenya’s former top judicial official David Maraga reported being taken into custody Monday during demonstrations opposing proposed development within Nairobi National Park.
The former Chief Justice was detained and subsequently freed while participating in a road blockade near the park’s primary entrance. He donned a green shirt matching those of fellow demonstrators.
Authorities have not yet provided an explanation for the detention.
In a social media post, Maraga stated he was apprehended while attempting to deliver a formal complaint to the Kenya Wildlife Service.
“Our national heritage and environment must be safeguarded from greed and unnecessary destruction without public participation,” he said.
Hundreds of environmental advocates participated in demonstrations opposing the proposed park development and orphanage relocation, describing the plans as an effort to seize public property.
The nation has a history of illegal land seizures, with conservation groups frequently objecting when parks and environmental areas face encroachment.
Kenya’s Amnesty International chapter voiced support for the demonstrators and demanded public involvement in choices affecting the nation’s environmental legacy.
“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 rights group said.
On Sunday, the Kenya Wildlife Service justified the development as part of orphanage expansion and visitor enhancement efforts, rejecting accusations of land seizure.
