The Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), Francis Atwoli, has proposed the dissolution of Nairobi National Park to pave the way for industrial expansion. He made the remarks on 22 June 2025 while addressing local residents in Karen, following their opposition to the proposed railway project set to connect Riruta and Ngong.
“Even the National Park, where we have animals, must be used to develop Nairobi. We need a new Nairobi with roads, facilities, and proper industrial parks because it is only Nairobi that has not been decongested in Africa,” said Atwoli, adding that even developed countries have had to make sacrifices in the name of progress.
“In any developing world, people construct in forests, people do whatever they can do. You can’t say, ‘I’m keeping this tree here’ when development is taking place. The population of Nairobi is growing,” he said.
Atwoli defended his controversial proposal by citing rapid population growth and the city’s failure to expand in line with demand.
“When we were young, the population of Nairobi was about 200,000. Now Nairobi hosts almost 15 million people — it cannot continue to remain the same,” he said.
On the matter of wildlife, Atwoli suggested that the animals could be relocated to the Maasai Mara to allow for development.
“It is only Nairobi which has not been decongested in Africa. So, we must expand. Nairobi must use that National Park. We must take those animals to Maasai Mara and make sure that Nairobi reflects an international city like other cities.”
He dismissed arguments for preserving the park simply because of its uniqueness, comparing the situation to Runda, which once had coffee farms.
“You can’t say that because we have a national park in Nairobi — and it’s the only city with one — that the park should remain there forever. Look at Runda. Runda used to have coffee farms. Do we still have coffee farms in Runda?”
Nairobi National Park has stood since its establishment in 1946 and is considered one of the few urban parks globally, offering a rare blend of wilderness and city life.
Atwoli’s comments come at a time when the government has expressed its commitment to elevating the park’s infrastructure to attract more tourists. According to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, the government plans to create additional entry points to ease congestion at the main gate.
– By Anthony Mwangi
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