Kenya Converts 76 Acres of Nairobi National Park for Billion-Shilling Convention Centre Project

2026-03-28 region

Nairobi, 28 March 2026
Kenya Wildlife Service has begun clearing trees from Nairobi National Park’s protected forest to make way for a controversial Sh41.9 billion expansion project. The development includes relocating a 62-year-old animal orphanage and creating a massive 1,300-vehicle parking facility primarily serving the new Bomas International Convention Centre. Conservationists argue this violates the park’s management plan and represents commercial land grabbing disguised as wildlife conservation, while President Ruto defends the project as essential for hosting major international conferences by May 2026.

Forest Clearing Begins Amid Environmental Backlash

Tree felling and bush clearing commenced on 21 March 2026, displacing wildlife from 40.5 hectares of forest within East Africa’s only urban national park [1]. The Kenya Wildlife Service obtained approval from the National Environment Management Authority on 3 December 2025 to convert 31 hectares (76 acres) of protected land [1][3]. Construction crews have moved into the park to facilitate the relocation of the Nairobi Animal Orphanage, established in 1964, which has served as a crucial wildlife rehabilitation centre for over 62 years [3][4]. The clearing operations include preparation for a connecting bridge to the Bomas International Convention Centre, integrating the wildlife sanctuary with the commercial development [1][7].

Massive Parking Development Raises Commercial Concerns

The new facility will feature a parking bay spanning 3.2 hectares, designed to accommodate up to 1,300 vehicles and integrated with the Bomas entrance [1]. This parking capacity appears disproportionate to the orphanage’s projected visitor numbers, which KWS estimates at 600,000 annually, averaging approximately 1,640 people per day [1]. The parking hub maintains a nearly 1:1 ratio of parking slots to daily visitors, raising questions about its true purpose [1]. Akshay Vishwanath, Executive Director for PILAE, noted: ‘If you compare this to Sarit Centre, which handles up to 25,000 visitors daily with 1,500 to 4,000 parking slots, it is clear the animal orphanage does not attract that much traffic. One can only imagine that a parking lot of this size is really an attempt to build for the BICC across the road’ [1]. Conservation group Friends of Nairobi National Park argued that ‘the parking lot is far in excess what the orphanage needs. The relocation is clearly an excuse to build parking facility that will primarily serve the new BICC’ [4].

Presidential Justification for Billion-Shilling Investment

President William Ruto defended the Sh41.9 billion investment during the 19th Ambassadors and High Commissioners Conference on 28 March 2026, emphasising Nairobi’s need for modern conference facilities [5]. ‘The facilities we currently have, including KICC, have served us well, but they are no longer sufficient. That is why we are rebuilding the Bomas of Kenya, which will be ready by May this year,’ Ruto stated [5]. The upgraded Bomas International Convention Centre will feature an 11,000-seat main auditorium, accommodating 3,500 delegates in conference mode and 3,200 for entertainment [5][7]. The convention hall will host up to 5,000 participants in conference setup or 2,600 for banquets, with 4,600 square metres of exhibition space [5]. The development aims to position Nairobi as a leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination and will employ over 3,000 construction workers [5].

Legal Violations and Conservation Concerns Mount

The project violates the Nairobi National Park Management Plan 2020-2030, which designates the affected area as a Low Use Zone with strict conservation guidelines [1][4]. This zoning is critical for protecting endangered species, including black rhino, white rhino, Maasai giraffe, vultures, secretary birds, bateleur eagles, grey crowned cranes, kori bustards, lions, leopards, and occasional cheetahs [4]. Stakeholders objected to the 1,300-capacity parking during public participation sessions held on 2 October 2025, yet the project proceeded [1][4]. Conservation groups have criticised the approval process as being conducted in secrecy, with neither the NEMA licence nor the environmental impact assessment made publicly available [1]. Friends of Nairobi National Park issued a press release on 24 March 2026 regarding what they termed ‘destruction of 100 acres of upland forest’ [4]. The Kenya Wildlife Service responded on 26 March 2026, stating that claims by Friends of Nairobi National Park alleging forest destruction were ‘misleading, unfounded and inflammatory’ [1][3][4].

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