By Ongaga Ongaga
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticized the arrest and detention of former Chief Justice David Maraga and nine other individuals during a protest at Nairobi National Park on Monday.
Musyoka characterized the incident as an assault on constitutional freedoms and Kenya’s democratic principles.
In a statement released on Monday, Kalonzo accused the administration of violating the rights of citizens who had assembled peacefully to object to plans he claimed would modify protected territory within the national park.
He maintained that the arrests transcended matters of public order and targeted fundamental aspects of constitutional governance.
“What occurred this morning along Lang’ata Road is not a matter of public order. It is a matter of the essence of our democracy and a direct assault on our Constitution,” Kalonzo stated.
The opposition leader referenced constitutional safeguards ensuring freedom of assembly, expression, access to information and public participation, asserting that the demonstrators were exercising legally protected rights.
He alleged that the government was stifling legitimate public opposition.
“They did not simply arrest peaceful protesters; they arrested the Constitution itself,” he declared.
Kalonzo also denounced a purported plan to remove part of Nairobi National Park for development, asserting that the action would compromise environmental conservation and public involvement requirements.
“The Nairobi National Park is not merely land. It is the sole national park globally situated within a capital city, an irreplaceable ecological and cultural heritage belonging to every Kenyan,” he emphasized. “To remove even a single acre of this park for a parking facility constitutes an act of national vandalism with irreversible consequences.”
He urged the government to immediately abandon any proposals that could alter the boundaries or integrity of the park, warning that harm to wildlife corridors and indigenous ecosystems might have permanent repercussions.
The former vice president also commended Maraga’s actions after his release from Lang’ata Police Station, noting that the former Chief Justice refused to depart until other detainees had also been freed.
“I will not depart this station until all those detained are released,” Kalonzo quoted Maraga as saying, describing the gesture as an expression of unity and leadership.
Kalonzo further demanded the immediate liberation of anyone still in custody, called on the Inspector General of Police to account for the use of force against protesters, and urged the Cabinet Secretary responsible for environmental affairs to clarify the legal justification for any proposed removal of park land.
He also challenged President William Ruto to address the matter publicly, asserting that silence from the nation’s leadership would only amplify public concerns regarding the future of Nairobi National Park and the rights of those opposing the initiative.