Chief Justice Emeritus and United Green Movement (UGM) presidential candidate David Maraga has congratulated environmental groups and thousands of activists following a court ruling halting commercial activities at Nairobi National Park for four months.
In a press statement issued on October 28, 2026, Maraga commended Friends of Nairobi National Park, Just Act Kenya, the Green Belt Movement and 4,642 environmental champions for their role in securing the court order.
He cited Articles 42 and 69 of the Constitution, which provide for the right to a clean and healthy environment and outline the State’s obligations to protect the environment.
Maraga also praised young Kenyans who took part in protests, delivered petitions and planted trees despite tear gas and what he described as unlawful arrests. He urged the Kenya Wildlife Service board to resist what he termed state capture.
The UGM presidential candidate criticised President William Ruto over what he described as a contradiction between his international climate advocacy and alleged plans to facilitate commercial infrastructure within Nairobi National Park. He also questioned the resources spent on foreign climate-related trips.
Maraga said the park was not vacant land, describing it as a carbon sink that helps purify air, regulate the local climate and support water catchment systems serving millions of people.
He used the statement to outline his presidential agenda, dubbed “Green Leap Kenya”, which he said would be anchored on constitutionalism, or Ukatiba, and human dignity, or Utu.
The agenda includes creating millions of green jobs within five years through ecosystem restoration and sustainable forestry, transforming agriculture through climate-resilient organic farming and local value chains, and expanding clean energy production.
On energy, Maraga opposed fossil fuel projects, including the proposed Lamu oil refinery, and called for greater investment in Kenya’s geothermal, solar, wind and green hydrogen potential. He cited an estimated potential of 290,000 megawatts as part of his vision to position Kenya as a global climate leader alongside the United Nations Environment Programme.
