The Green Belt Movement has raised concerns over construction activities inside Nairobi National Park, alleging that the development of a parking facility for the Bomas International Convention Centre is causing environmental damage. The conservation organization described the project as a threat to the park’s ecological integrity, while the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has dismissed the allegations as unfounded.
According to the Green Belt Movement, the planned infrastructure includes new access roads and a parking area designed to accommodate approximately 1,300 vehicles. The group noted that the ongoing relocation of the Nairobi Animal Orphanage appears directly linked to the expansion. Environmental advocates, including Friends of Nairobi National Park, estimate that up to 100 acres of upland forest could be affected by the development. The movement stated that clearing protected woodland for vehicular infrastructure contradicts established conservation objectives and questioned whether protected land is being repurposed to accommodate parking demand.
KWS has maintained that the relocation and modernization of the animal orphanage comply with national regulations and international wildlife management standards. The agency characterized reports of widespread deforestation as misleading and emphasized that all activities are conducted under approved operational guidelines. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between urban infrastructure development and the preservation of protected ecosystems in Kenya’s capital region.
In response to the allegations, the Green Belt Movement has called for an immediate suspension of all construction within the park boundaries. The organization is also requesting full public access to the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment and an independent audit to verify compliance with existing conservation frameworks.
The outcome of the review could influence how future infrastructure projects are evaluated within Kenya’s protected areas. As regulatory and environmental assessments continue, stakeholders await official clarification on the project’s scope and its long-term implications for biodiversity conservation in the region.
