NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has launched a countrywide public participation drive to gather feedback on proposed changes to park entry and conservation fees, in what would be the most significant review of the fee structure in nearly two decades.
The exercise, which runs from July 29 to August 8, will feature 20 in-person stakeholder forums in counties across the country—including Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret.
It is aimed at modernising Kenya’s conservation financing through the draft Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations, 2025.
KWS Director General Dr Erustus Kanga, in a notice dated July 17, said the review is necessary to safeguard the future of Kenya’s protected areas amid rising operational costs, climate-related threats, and growing human-wildlife conflict.
“We’re not just adjusting numbers; we are recalibrating a system to ensure Kenya’s wildlife heritage thrives for generations,” said Dr Kanga. “We particularly want to hear from communities living near wildlife areas, tour operators, conservationists, and the general public.”
Why the Review Matters
Tourism currently generates about 90 percent of KWS’s internal revenue, but the model is under strain. According to KWS:
- 72 percent of the annual budget goes to personnel costs.
- Development spending—including for ranger housing, patrol vehicles, fencing, and surveillance—is only 10 percent.
- The last comprehensive fee review was in 2007, despite significant cost increases since then.
- Just five parks (Amboseli, Nairobi, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo East, and Tsavo West) account for 73 percent of all park revenue—subsidising over 150 field stations and human-wildlife conflict response units.
The new regulations aim to create a more sustainable model that supports park infrastructure upgrades, improved visitor safety, climate resilience, and better benefit-sharing with communities living near wildlife areas.
Where to Participate
The forums kick off on July 29 in Homa Bay, Hola, and Marsabit, with additional stops through to August 8 in Nairobi.
Stakeholders may also engage online via kws.go.ke or tourism.go.ke. Written submissions can be emailed to ra***@****go.ke or sent by post, with a deadline of August 5.
Copies of the draft regulations and the accompanying Regulatory Impact Statement are available for free at all KWS-managed parks, sanctuaries, and offices.
Once the consultations are complete, KWS will consolidate the feedback into a final report, revise the draft accordingly, and submit the proposed regulations to Parliament for approval.
“This is not just about fees; it’s about the future of Kenya’s conservation efforts and the communities that rely on them,” said Kanga.
