Former Kenyan Chief Justice David Maraga was among those arrested on Monday after joining protesters demonstrating against an alleged plan to construct a car park on protected land inside a wildlife sanctuary.
The demonstration brought together activists and public figures united around one concern: that a portion of national park land is at risk of being handed over to development. Maraga, a respected legal figure known for his role in landmark rulings during his time on the bench, chose to stand physically alongside the protesters rather than speak from the sidelines.
Details from authorities on the circumstances of the arrest remain limited, but the action drew immediate attention given Maraga's stature. When a former chief justice gets detained at a demonstration, it signals just how seriously some Kenyans are taking this fight over their protected lands.
The question of who has the right to green and protected spaces in Kenya's cities and wild areas is not going away. Watch this space.
Originally published by BBC Africa.