Members of the civil society have condemned the arrest of former Chief Justice David Kenani Maraga and other demonstrators for protesting against construction works at the Nairobi National Park.
The civil groups comprising Friends of Nairobi National Park, Just Act, United Green Movement Party, The Green Belt Movement, Amnesty International Kenya, and Greenpeace Africa have condemned what they have termed as unnecessary force used against Maraga and fellow protestors who had convened outside the Park.
“The use of force against citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, expression, and public participation is unacceptable.” The groups said.
Maraga and the arrested demonstators have so far been released on a free bond.
They have however been ordered to report to the police on the 27th of this month with the police saying no further charges will be pursued against them.
“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 civil society groups added in a joint statement.
The groups have further expressed support for Maraga and other protestor’s opposition to the hiving of a section of The National Park for construction works.
In their statement they have said the “Nairobi National Park is not for sale.”
Police, however, denied they had arrested the group, stating that said they had facilitated them from the road to the station to file their petition.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has defended the construction works saying it is parts of a plan to move the Nairobi Animal Orphanage to a large parcel of land to accommodate more rescued animals.
The hived land will also; apart from the new orphanage; accommodate a parking space for the Bomas International Convention Centre that is currently under construction.
