Kananu blasts Atwoli over proposal to dissolve Nairobi National Park to expand the city

Former Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu Monday told off Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli over his proposal to have Nairobi National Park dissolved to pave way for expansion of Nairobi City.

Kananu termed the proposal as an insult and threat to the efforts environmentalist have invested in securing the National Park.
In a statement, Kananu said that the park is a natural treasure that must be protected at all costs.

“The Nairobi National Park is a national treasure,an iconic asset that should forever be protected against any threats from politicians and leaders of high ranking like Francis Atwoli,” she said.

She added that that beyond it’s wildlife uniqueness, the park makes a significant contribution to Nairobi’s environment health, acting as a natural carbon sink, regulating the local climate and protecting vital water catchment areas.

Her remarks echo a statement by Friends of Nairobi National Park(FoNNaP) who also opposed Atwoli’s proposal.

The conservation group described the idea as misguided and a threat to both Kenya’s natural heritage and Nairobi’s global identity.

Speaking in response to Atwoli’s suggestion that the park’s wildlife be relocated to the Maasai Mara to “decongest” Nairobi and help it achieve “international city” status, the group warned of dire ecological, economic, and cultural consequences.

“This proposal undermines the park’s enormous value and contradicts the government’s own commitments to conservation,” the organisation said in a statement.

“Nairobi National Park enhances, not hinders, the city’s standing as a modern, world-class capital.”

Nairobi National Park, established in 1946 as Kenya’s first national park, covers 117 square kilometers and is home to over 100 mammal species, including lions, leopards, buffaloes, and black rhinos, as well as over 500 birds.

Its location, with Nairobi’s skyline as a backdrop, has made it a global symbol of how urban development and nature can coexist.

FoNNaP warned that dismantling the park would cause irreversible environmental damage.

The park serves as Nairobi’s green lung, absorbing carbon emissions, reducing air pollution, and regulating the local climate.

The group claimed that its extinction would fragment ecosystems, disrupt food chains, and hasten the decline of endangered species such as black rhinos, grey-crowned cranes, and white-backed vultures.

It would also raise flood and erosion risks due to reduced soil stability.

The organization dismissed Atwoli’s call for wildlife translocation as “logistically and ecologically unviable,” citing the enormous challenges of moving thousands of animals, ranging from large mammals like rhinos to smaller species critical to ecological balance.

FoNNaP warned that such a move would result in high mortality rates and disrupt the Nairobi and Maasai Mara ecosystems.

Beyond environmental concerns, FoNNaP emphasized the potential economic consequences. The park is a major tourist attraction, generating jobs in conservation, hospitality, and related industries. Its destruction would harm Nairobi’s international reputation as a safari destination.

FoNNaP further noted that the proposal conflicts with recent government actions to safeguard the park. In April, the government approved a wildlife corridor linking the park to the Athi-Kapiti ecosystem—part of efforts to promote coexistence between urban growth and wildlife conservation.

The group also underscored the park’s value as a centre for environmental education and called for the establishment of a dedicated ecology centre to inspire young Kenyans to become future stewards of the country’s natural resources.

“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.”