The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has denied claims that it blocked activists from accessing Nairobi National Park during a court-ordered site visit on July 21.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke on July 23, KWS Communications Officer Duncan Wanyama said the visit was not obstructed and that rangers were simply enforcing standard safety protocols within the park.

Wanyama said Nairobi National Park is not an ordinary public space but a protected ecosystem where wild animals roam freely, making it necessary for visitors to comply with established safety guidelines.

The activists had visited the park as part of a court-ordered inspection by the Environment and Land Court in a case challenging the proposed Bomas International Convention Complex project.

📌 What You Need to Know

According to KWS, the restrictions enforced during the visit were standard safety measures for all visitors and were not intended to prevent access.

“First, Nairobi National Park is not an ordinary public space. It is a protected wildlife ecosystem with free-ranging animals, some of which are dangerous. Some rules and procedures exist for one reason only: to protect human life,” Wanyama said.

According to Wanyama, that is why every visitor to the park must be accompanied by trained rangers and licensed guides.

He questioned whether any wildlife park anywhere in the world allows visitors to walk freely among dangerous animals without supervision.

Wanyama maintained that the safety protocols enforced at Nairobi National Park are standard practice in protected wildlife areas around the world.

He added that everyone who complied with the rangers' instructions accessed the inspection site without incident.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke