A conservation storm is brewing over the alleged destruction of 100 acres of upland forest inside Nairobi National Park.
An environmental lobby group, Friends of Nairobi National Park (FoNNaP) is demanding an immediate halt to ongoing works.
In a press statement, FoNNaP raised alarm over what it described as “urgent” and potentially irreversible damage caused by ongoing construction linked to the relocation of the Nairobi Animal Orphanage and associated developments.
The works reportedly include a large parking lot and access road tied to the proposed Bomas International Convention Centre project.
“The upland forest in Nairobi National Park is being destroyed,” the statement reads, warning that lions, rhinos, Maasai giraffes and at least nine other endangered species that depend on the habitat are being displaced.
FoNNaP members say they have verified the destruction on site, with tree-felling and bush clearing said to have begun on March 21, 2026.
“This must be stopped immediately to prevent irreversible damage to one of the park’s most sensitive habitats,” the group stated.
At the center of the controversy is what the group claims is the “real driver” of the project a proposed 1,300-vehicle parking facility.
According to FoNNaP, the capacity far exceeds the needs of the animal orphanage and is primarily intended to serve the planned convention center.
“The relocation of the orphanage is clearly an excuse to build a parking facility,” the statement alleges, adding that stakeholders had overwhelmingly opposed the plan during a public participation meeting held in October 2025.
The group further argues that the development violates the Nairobi National Park Management Plan 2020–2030.
The affected area falls within a designated Low Use Zone, which is meant to remain largely undisturbed, with strict restrictions against new infrastructure, roads, and human interference.
FoNNaP quotes the plan as stating that the upland forest is “largely undisturbed” and intended to provide both ecological protection and a sense of solitude for visitors.
The zone is also critical for endangered and vulnerable species, including black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and over 500 bird species.
The organization has also questioned the approval process, terming it opaque and flawed. It claims that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license was issued by NEMA on December 3, 2025, without adequate public participation or disclosure.
“There was no genuine public participation in this process,” FoNNaP stated, noting that the EIA report was neither shared during earlier consultations nor made publicly available online.
The group also linked the project to broader concerns around the Bomas development, which it says has faced audit queries over procurement irregularities and lack of parliamentary approval.
FoNNaP has intensified its “Save Nairobi National Park” campaign, seeking to mobilize public support, pursue legal action, and engage authorities including KWS and NEMA to secure a stop-work order.
“The destruction of this forested area is just one of many ongoing threats to the park,” the group warned, citing urban encroachment and habitat fragmentation.
Framing the issue starkly, the lobby posed a critical question: “Is KWS mandated to protect endangered species’ habitat or build a parking lot?”
FoNNaP has urged the public to act swiftly by raising awareness, contacting authorities, and supporting conservation efforts.