NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has explained the recent increase in entry fees at Karura Forest, attributing the changes to additional charges introduced under the government’s e-Citizen platform.
KFS Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko said the higher costs reflect Value Added Tax (VAT) and a convenience fee charged per transaction, not per individual.
“Because it’s a government accounting process, VAT has to be paid. That is one. Two, for e-Citizen, we have a convenience fee per transaction, not per person. So if 20 people came as a group and they wanted to pay, they would pay once. That means the Sh50 fee applies to the whole group, not per head,” Lemarkoko told Spice FM on Tuesday.
Under the revised structure, solo visitors will now pay Sh166 each, with an additional Sh16 in VAT and a Sh50 transaction fee.
Groups will share the Sh50 fee, making collective payments cheaper than individual ones.
However, Friends of Karura Forest, a community lobby, reported slightly higher figures, saying adult entry fees had risen from Sh100 to Sh174, while children’s charges had increased from Sh50 to Sh116 under the new system.
The transition has also triggered significant job losses, with more than 500 people affected — including 122 scouts and about 400 community support staff previously engaged in Karura operations.
KFS defended the changes, saying the additional revenue will support conservation, security, and maintenance in Karura, one of Nairobi’s most popular urban forests and a vital recreational and environmental hub.
