Conservationists have sharply criticized Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Dr. Francis Atwoli for proposing the dissolution of Nairobi National Park to make way for urban expansion, calling the idea “misguided” and ecologically disastrous.
The Friends of Nairobi National Park (FoNNaP), a prominent conservation group, issued a strongly worded statement in response to Atwoli’s suggestion that the park’s wildlife be relocated to the Maasai Mara to “decongest” Nairobi and pave the way for its transformation into an “international city.”
“This proposal undermines the park’s enormous value and contradicts the government’s own commitments to conservation,” FoNNaP said. “Nairobi National Park enhances, not hinders, the city’s standing as a modern, world-class capital.”
Established in 1946, Nairobi National Park is Kenya’s oldest national park, covering 117 square kilometers. It is home to more than 100 mammal species, including lions, black rhinos, and leopards, and over 500 bird species. The park’s unique proximity to the city skyline has made it a global icon of urban-nature coexistence.
FoNNaP warned that dismantling the park would lead to irreversible environmental damage. It acts as a crucial green lung for Nairobi, reducing air pollution, absorbing carbon emissions, and regulating the local climate. The loss of the park, the group said, would fragment ecosystems, disrupt food chains, and endanger vulnerable species like grey-crowned cranes and white-backed vultures.
Atwoli’s proposal to relocate wildlife was dismissed as “logistically and ecologically unviable,” with FoNNaP warning that mass translocation would result in high animal mortality and ecological imbalance both in Nairobi and in the Maasai Mara.
Beyond environmental concerns, the group highlighted the park’s significant economic role. As a major tourist attraction, it supports jobs in conservation, tourism, and hospitality. Its destruction, they argued, would damage Kenya’s global image as a safari destination and erode cultural and educational opportunities for future generations.
FoNNaP also noted that the proposal runs counter to recent conservation efforts. In April, the government approved a wildlife corridor linking the park to the Athi-Kapiti ecosystem, affirming its commitment to balancing urban development with environmental stewardship.
“A truly modern Nairobi is one that integrates nature into its urban fabric, not one that sacrifices it,” FoNNaP stated. “We urge planners, policymakers, and the public to protect this irreplaceable legacy.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
