Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has defended the proposed upward revision of entry fees in Kenya’s national parks and reserves, stressing the need to bridge a persistent funding gap in conservation.
Miano, speaking during the Capital FM morning show, said that the decision to revise the park fees upward has been informed by the rising costs of maintaining the facilities.
“I would wish to correct that the fees have been constant for a very long time. It is very expensive to manage our parks and our conservation areas and all that, and that is why there is an exercise to try to rationalize, review, and see the best value for money.”
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) had on September 2 sought public input on a plan to raise park fees for the first time in nearly two decades.
Through the exercise, KWS aimed to close a Sh12 billion annual conservation funding gap that has left operations under strain.
The new draft regulations, which will be scrutinized at a validation forum at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), outline sharp increases in park entry charges.
At Nairobi National Park, local fees would rise from Sh430 to Sh1,000, while foreign visitors would pay $80 (about Sh10,360), up from $43 (Sh5,570). Premium destinations such as Amboseli and Lake Nakuru would charge Sh1,500 for locals and Sh11,660 for international tourists.
Mid-tier parks like Meru and Aberdare would see rates of Sh800 for locals and $70 (Sh9,070) for foreigners, while scenic parks such as Hell’s Gate would set local entry at Sh500.
KWS argues that the revision is essential to meet rising conservation costs.
In the 2024/25 fiscal year, the agency generated Sh7.92 billion against a requirement of Sh19.79 billion, constraining its ability to fund anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, and infrastructure upgrades.
The new fee structure is projected to raise collections to Sh16.58 billion by 2028, aligning with KWS’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan to reduce reliance on exchequer support and boost financial sustainability.
The proposal follows a legal setback in December 2023, when the High Court in Malindi suspended a similar fee hike, citing insufficient public participation.
This time, the ministry says it has undertaken extensive consultations through gazette notices, media announcements, and national radio broadcasts.
Tourism operators, however, have warned that steep hikes could deter visitors and affect Kenya’s competitiveness against regional rivals like Tanzania and South Africa.
Stakeholders will have until September 11 to submit feedback at the KICC forum or via written submissions to KWS headquarters, after which the regulations will be finalized and gazetted for implementation in the next fiscal cycle.
