Nairobi — The Green Belt Movement has raised alarm over alleged destruction within the Nairobi National Park linked to the construction of a parking facility for the Bomas International Convention Centre.

The lobby termed the development an existential threat to one of Kenya's most iconic ecological assets.

"Nairobi National Park is a living symbol of Kenya's natural heritage, a globally unique protected area bordering a capital city and a critical refuge for biodiversity. To destroy a protected upland forest in order to create access roads and a large parking area fundamentally contradicts the very purpose of conservation," the movement said.

It questioned the rationale behind the project, noting that the planned relocation of the animal orphanage appears tied to the development of a large parking facility with capacity for about 1,300 vehicles.

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"This invites a serious national question: Are we sacrificing a protected park to create parking space?" the group posed.

The concerns come amid a dispute with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which has dismissed claims of environmental destruction as "misleading, unfounded and inflammatory."

KWS insists that the relocation and upgrade of the Nairobi Animal Orphanage is lawful and aligned with both local regulations and international conservation standards.

Environmental groups, including Friends of Nairobi National Park, have alleged that up to 100 acres of upland forest could be at risk due to the development.

The Green Belt Movement is now calling for the immediate suspension of all construction activities within the park, full public disclosure of the Environmental Impact Assessment, and an independent review of the project's compliance with conservation plans.

It warned that allowing infrastructure development within protected areas could undermine decades of conservation gains across the country.