A government plan to relocate the Nairobi Animal Orphanage and build a large parking facility, access road and pedestrian bridge inside Nairobi National Park has landed in court after thousands of citizens challenged the project, saying it threatens one of the country's most important protected areas.
The petitioners want all ongoing works stopped, arguing that the approvals were issued in violation of environmental, wildlife and constitutional laws.
The case has been filed at the Environment and Land Court by a coalition of 4,640 citizens identifying themselves as Friends of Nairobi National Park.
They argue that the proposed developments are linked to the planned expansion of the Bomas of Kenya complex into an international convention centre and related visitor facilities, and should not proceed before the court determines whether they were lawfully approved.
The petition names the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the National Environment
Management Authority (Nema), the Attorney General, and the Cabinet Secretaries for Tourism and Wildlife, and Roads and Transport as respondents.
The group is seeking conservatory orders to immediately stop vegetation clearance, tree felling, excavation, grading, fencing, road construction and any other works within the affected section of Nairobi National Park pending the hearing and determination of the petition.
hey are also asking the court to quash all approvals issued for the project.
Court documents show that the project proposes moving the Nairobi Animal Orphanage from its current location to a new site along the park's northern boundary on Langata Road.
It also includes the construction of a parking facility with space for 1,300 vehicles on about eight acres of land, an access road connecting the new orphanage and parking area to the Bomas of Kenya complex, and a pedestrian bridge within the park.
The petitioners say development activities have already started in an area classified as a Low Use Zone under the Nairobi National Park Management Plan 2020–2030. They argue that vegetation has been cleared, excavation carried out and fencing erected before all legal requirements were met.
According to the petition, the project did not comply with the Constitution, the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, the Forest Conservation and Management Act, and the Nairobi National Park Management Plan.
"The respondents have commenced and continue to undertake clearing of indigenous vegetation, felling of trees, excavation, grading, fencing, road construction and other development activities within Nairobi National Park," the petition states.
In a supporting affidavit, petitioner James Mudhune says the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report contains conflicting information on the size of the proposed relocation site, raising concerns over its reliability.
He says the report refers to the site as measuring 26 acres, 64 acres and 76.6 acres in different sections, while KWS has publicly indicated that the land measures between 89 and 90 acres.
The petitioners maintain that the planned developments will damage wildlife habitats, interfere with the park's ecological health and unlawfully convert protected conservation land into transport and commercial infrastructure.