KWS to Relocate Nairobi Animal Orphanage from Nairobi National Park
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has announced plans to relocate the Nairobi Animal Orphanage from Nairobi National Park to a new 89-hectare site opposite Bomas of Kenya as part of a major expansion of its wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities.
The orphanage has operated within Nairobi National Park for decades and remains one of Kenya’s most visited conservation education centres. However, KWS says growing demand for wildlife rescue and care has placed increasing pressure on the facility, which was not designed to support current operational needs.
According to KWS, the orphanage has received up to 17,000 visitors during peak periods, creating congestion and placing strain on available resources. The agency said the existing site no longer provides sufficient space for modern wildlife rehabilitation and management activities.
The new facility, located along Langata Road, will provide more than twenty times the space available at the current orphanage. Its location near Nairobi National Park and neighbouring ecosystems is expected to improve links with natural habitats while supporting better visitor management.
KWS said the relocation was informed by scientific, environmental and operational assessments. The agency said that the new facility is being designed to meet international standards for animal welfare and conservation.
Plans for the expanded orphanage include larger animal enclosures, a fully equipped veterinary unit, a wildlife hospital with surgical capabilities, quarantine facilities, nurseries for young animals and dedicated areas for rewilding programmes.
These developments are intended to align with standards established by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). KWS estimates that the construction and operation of the new facility will create up to 1,000 direct jobs for young Kenyans, alongside additional opportunities for service providers.
The orphanage is expected to accommodate more than 20,000 animals and will include space for future expansion. The relocation forms part of wider efforts to strengthen Kenya’s wildlife management infrastructure in response to increasing human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss and climate-related pressures.
KWS said the expanded facility will support wildlife conservation, education and eco-tourism while improving the country’s capacity to rescue and rehabilitate animals.
