Maraga occupied a section of Lang’ata Road, near the Bomas of Kenya, with a team of protesters on Monday when plain-clothed officers rounded them up and apprehended him alongside other protesters.
KWS had announced plans to hive off 76 acres of the Nairobi National Park as part of the Ksh.41.9 billion Bomas of Kenya expansion project and relocation of the 62-year-old animal orphanage.
Activist Njeri Mwangi told Citizen TV that the former CJ and presidential aspirant was arrested with eight others and were taken to the Lang’ata police station in Nairobi.
The protesters demanded the withdrawal of the plan to divide the land, arguing that the Park is a national heritage and should not be used for construction.
“We know they plan to use 76 acres to build a parking space and it should not happen because it did not have any public participation. We came here to stop the action. This is the only park in the capital city and we are against it,” she said.
“I have been informed they have taken him to the Lang’ata police station. Nine people have been arrested and we do not know their offence.”
Maraga was later released while the other activists remained in police custody. He however denied to leave until the detained activists are released.
This comes as the ongoing construction of the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC) is under scrutiny by members of the National Assembly’s Tourism and Wildlife Committee, who questioned the high cost of the facility.
The legislators questioned the Ksh.42 billion being used for construction, saying the figure is exorbitant and too high compared to other similar facilities in the region.
The total overhaul of the popular Bomas of Kenya and the construction of a new international meetings, conferences and exhibitions centre, dubbed Bomas International Convention Centre (BICC), is touted as part of the Kenya Kwanza government’s flagship projects.
