The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has strongly condemned the arrest of former Chief Justice David Maraga and several environmental activists during a protest against the alleged irregular allocation of 76 acres of the Nairobi National Park.
In a statement, LSK President Charles Kanjama described the arrest as a shocking attack on constitutional freedoms, arguing that peaceful demonstrations are protected under Article 37 of the Constitution. He criticized the decision to bundle the retired Chief Justice into a police vehicle while protesting a proposed Sh42 billion project reportedly advanced without adequate public participation.
Kanjama warned that national heritage sites should not be treated as state property to be allocated without transparency and public involvement. He further accused authorities of shrinking civic space by targeting individuals and groups seeking accountability on matters of public interest.
The LSK announced that it had dispatched a legal team to Langโata Police Station to secure the unconditional release of those arrested. The society also commended Maraga for reportedly declining to leave police custody until all activists arrested alongside him were released.
The lawyersโ body demanded an immediate end to the harassment of civic actors and called for a transparent public audit of the proposed Bomas expansion plan. Kanjama reaffirmed the LSKโs commitment to defending constitutional rights, the rule of law, and the protection of public land and national heritage.
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