Civil society organisations have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of former Chief Justice David Maraga and other protesters arrested during demonstrations opposing a controversial infrastructure project linked to Nairobi National Park.

The demand follows a protest staged by environmental defenders, students and human rights activists who gathered to oppose developments they say threaten the integrity of Kenya’s only national park bordering a capital city.

Police have denied that Maraga and the other demonstrators had been arrested, maintaining that they had merely been escorted to a police station to present a petition.

However, in a statement on Monday, June 8, 2026, a coalition of environmental and human rights organisations, including Friends of Nairobi National Park, Just Act, United Green Movement Party, The Green Belt Movement, Amnesty International Kenya and Greenpeace Africa, condemned what they described as the arrest of nine peaceful protesters and the violent dispersal of a lawful procession.

The groups said the demonstrators were exercising their constitutional rights and should not have been subjected to force or intimidation.

“The use of force against citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, expression, and public participation is unacceptable. The arrests and reported acts of intimidation against those raising legitimate concerns about the future of Nairobi National Park represent a dangerous assault on civic space and democratic participation,” the organisations said.

Maraga was among a group of conservationists and concerned citizens who had assembled outside the park to protest plans they believed could permanently alter one of Kenya’s most important wildlife habitats.

Videos circulating on social media appeared to show the former Chief Justice being escorted into a police vehicle alongside other demonstrators.

The organisations called on authorities to respect, protect and facilitate the right to peaceful assembly as guaranteed under the Constitution of Kenya and international human rights law.

“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested,” the statement said.

Defending the park

The groups also expressed solidarity with citizens campaigning to protect the park, insisting that decisions affecting public resources must involve meaningful public participation.

“We stand in solidarity with citizens defending Nairobi National Park and the right to public participation in decisions that affect our shared environment. 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 coalition argued that the dispute extends beyond environmental conservation and touches on broader issues of governance, accountability and transparency.

“This is about more than land. It is about power, accountability, transparency, and the right of people to be heard,” the statement added.

The organisations described Nairobi National Park as a unique ecological treasure and a critical refuge for wildlife and biodiversity. They noted that any proposals affecting the protected area should undergo rigorous environmental scrutiny and public consultation.

“Any plans that threaten its integrity must be subjected to meaningful public participation, environmental scrutiny, and full transparency,” the statement read.

The coalition further warned that shrinking civic space, criminalisation of dissent and the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters undermine the rule of law and public trust in state institutions.

Among their key demands are the immediate release of all persons arrested during the procession, an end to intimidation and arbitrary arrests, full respect for constitutional freedoms, transparency regarding any plans affecting Nairobi National Park, and the long-term protection of the park as a national heritage site.

“The future of Nairobi National Park belongs to the people of Kenya, and citizens have every right to defend it,” the organisations said.