Kenyan police fired tear gas on Monday to disperse protesters outside Nairobi National Park, where demonstrators rallied against a planned development they say threatens one of the country’s most iconic protected areas.
At least nine people were arrested during the protest, including former Chief Justice David Maraga, Reuters reporters at the scene said.
The demonstration was held outside the park’s main entrance as activists opposed plans by the Kenya Wildlife Service to expand an animal orphanage on the site. The agency has defended the project, saying it is intended to improve wildlife care facilities.
Protesters, however, say the development would encroach on Nairobi National Park, including through the construction of a parking area designed to accommodate more than 1,000 vehicles.
Demonstrators carried placards with slogans such as “Nature is not vacant land,” warning that the project could set a dangerous precedent for development inside protected conservation areas.
“We are gathered here because Nairobi National Park is once again under threat,” activist Nyaguthii Chege told reporters at the scene.
Located about 10 kilometres from Nairobi’s central business district, Nairobi National Park is widely known as the only major wildlife reserve inside a capital city. The park is home to rhinos, lions, buffalo and leopards, often seen with Nairobi’s skyline in the background.