Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has told Parliament the ministry is working to increase tourism earnings from Sh352 billion in 2023 to Sh824 billion in 2027.
Miano said this when she appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Tourism and Wildlife for the consideration of the budget estimates for the State Department of Tourism for the financial year 2025/26.
The CS noted that the department has been allocated Sh17 billion in the financial year 2025/26 with Sh11.1 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh5.9 billion for development expenditure, a reduction of Sh863 million from the request made to the National Treasury.
“The Sh17 billion has been distributed across three key programmes which include Tourism Promotion and Marketing, Tourism Product Development and Diversification and General Administration, Planning and Support Services,” said Miano.
She told the committee that the Tourism Product Development and Diversification has been allocated Sh15.2 billion and is tasked with job creation and enterprise growth through the development of new products and value chain support for the youth and community empowerment, expanding domestic tourism through affordable inclusive offerings and Tourism Training and Capacity building.
The Tourism Promotion and Marketing programme has been allocated Sh1.4 billion for the support of foreign exchange earnings and expanding source markets, especially internationally and within Africa.
“Tourism Promotion and Marketing programme helps in boosting tourist arrivals as well as improving quality, safety, hygiene and professionalism of tourism enterprises and niche products such as adventure, sports, culture, agriculture tourism, medical and wellness tourism,” said Miano.
The CS noted that Sh283 million has been allocated for general administration, planning and support services and is tasked with providing enabling structures for effective planning, monitoring and delivery of Bottom Up Economic Agenda.
Miano revealed that they have received a request from the National Treasury to ring fence Sh4.5 billion annually from both the Tourism Promotion Fund and the Tourism Fund towards the construction of Bomas International Convention Centre.
“We are in discussion with the National Treasury on how best the Bomas International Convention Centre project can be implemented and we shall appraise this committee when these discussions are complete,” she said.
She regretted that the State Department of Wildlife has been allocated Sh14.3 billion instead of the requested Sh23.9 billion, which will hamper the delivery of crucial services like clearing pending bills for human wildlife conflict claims and providing adequate water for wildlife.
Miano said that there is need for the National Treasury to consider allocating Sh 100 million in the financial year 2025/2026 to private conservancies across the country so that they can continue with their conservation activities without any hindrance.
She noted that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) had a reduction of expected exchequer receipt over the last two years from Sh18.6 billion in financial year 2023/2024 to Sh11.6 billion in financial year 2025/2026 with several intervention measures adopted to address the funding gap.
“A review of conservation fees was completed in December 2023; however, the implementation was barred by the High Court following a legal suit by some stakeholders; KWS has commenced the process of reviewing the fees afresh as per the market trends and relevant laws,” said Miano.
The CS said KWS has been allocated Sh200 million for the maintenance of at least 2,000 kilometres of existing unclassified roads and 10 airstrips to improve access to parks while it is seeking support to open additional road network of at least 700 kilometres to cover new tourism sites.
She told the committee that KWS has embarked on reviewing the existing lease agreements to align them to the current market rate and prevailing economic conditions.
“Kenya Wildlife Service has been working in partnership with Tourism Promotion Fund to rehabilitate tourism facilities and amenities such as gates, washrooms and self-catering guest houses, Safari walk among other conservation activities aimed at customer satisfaction,” said Miano.
The CS said that KWS has been allocated Sh250 million in the financial year 2025/2026 for rehabilitation and maintenance of fences, water pans and boreholes aimed at reducing human wildlife conflicts in identified hotspots.
Miano said KWS carried out ranger recruitment last year after a 10-year break in efforts to ensure adequate personnel to protect national parks and game reserves.
