Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers reportedly blocked petitioners from accessing the Nairobi National Park during a court-ordered site visit amid a legal dispute over planned developments. In an official statement obtained by, Friends of Nairobi National Park (FoNNaP) stated the July 21 visit was part of a case filed by 4,642 challenging ongoing developments within the park. The group accused KWS of restricting their participation in the legal process despite an order by the Environment and Land Court in Milimani directing that the inspection, led by Deputy Registrar Vincent Kiplagat, be conducted in the presence of all parties.
“The co-petitioners arrived at the park at the designated time, only to be subjected to intimidation and threats by masked, armed service personnel of KWS. Matters escalated when these same personnel then tried to eject the co-petitioners from the KWS headquarters premises,”the statement read. Videos of the confrontation reviewed by this publication displayed the KWS officers questioning the petitioners and directing some individuals to return to their vehicles.
The petitioners can be heard explaining to the officers that they were attending the visit as part of an ongoing court matter. In addition, images from the scene confirm that some of the officers were armed and masked during the incident. According to the petitioners, the officers later allowed them to access the park only after the site visit had been completed by court officials, KWS representatives, members of the media, and the sole legal representative permitted to accompany them.
Despite the access dispute, the authorised officials inspected both the existing Nairobi Animal Orphanage inside the park and the proposed 89-hectare relocation site opposite Bomas of Kenya, where construction works have stalled amid the pending petition. Environmentalists have accused the government of hiving off 76 acres of protected park land for construction of the Bomas International Conference Complex (BICC), warning that it threatens a protected indigenous forest that provides habitat for the critically endangered black rhino. They also argue that the project was approved without adequate public participation and proper environmental assessment.
KWS has defended the move, stating the current orphanage cannot accommodate increasing visitor numbers and rescue cases. Further, the service stated the new facility will include improved amenities, a wildlife hospital and job opportunities, while the old site will eventually be restored. The matter remains before the environmental court, which is expected to continue hearing the petition on July 23.