The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced plans to move the Nairobi Animal Orphanage from Nairobi National Park to a new site outside the park.
The relocation affects a facility that has operated for 62 years [1]. The move comes as KWS reports an increasing number of rescued wildlife and rising human-wildlife conflict within the park, which the agency said necessitates a larger and safer facility.
In a statement issued March 27, 2026, a KWS spokesperson said, "The relocation is a carefully planned initiative aimed at improving wildlife conservation and animal welfare" [4].
Reports on the scale of the new site vary. One report indicates the proposed site near Bomas Centre covers 90 acres [2]. However, other reports linked to a court case suggest that 76 acres are being taken from Nairobi National Park [3].
The plan has sparked backlash from environmentalists and legal advocates. One unnamed environmental activist said the move threatens the integrity of Nairobi National Park [2].
Some critics suggest the move is not about animal welfare but about urban development. Kituo cha Sheria, a legal lobby group, said the relocation is a "smokescreen" to allow for the expansion of the Bomas of Kenya [3]. This expansion is reportedly linked to a project costing Sh41 billion [3].
“The relocation is a carefully planned initiative aimed at improving wildlife conservation and animal welfare.”
The dispute highlights a recurring tension between urban infrastructure expansion and wildlife conservation in Kenya. While KWS frames the move as a welfare improvement for animals, the conflicting reports on acreage and the Sh41 billion Bomas expansion suggest a larger land-use conflict that could diminish the protected area of Nairobi National Park.
