The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) concluded its 20th and final public participation forum on the proposed Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation) Fees Regulations, 2025, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi.
The forum marked the end of a nationwide engagement exercise that spanned 19 counties and brought together key stakeholders from the tourism industry, conservation partners, county governments, the youth, and the general public.
The initiative aimed to solicit public views on proposed changes to park entry fees and related conservation charges for both local and international tourists.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Erustus Kanga, Director General of KWS, emphasized the importance of public participation in shaping the future of Kenya’s wildlife conservation model.
“Kenya’s wildlife belongs to you, the people. At KWS, we are only caretakers,” Dr. Kanga said, noting that the last revision of park entry fees was done in 2007, 18 years ago.
He stated that despite growing operational costs, including increased fuel prices, equipment, and staff salaries, KWS has maintained the same conservation fees, leading to a widening gap between conservation needs and available resources.
“Imagine managing a critical department for nearly two decades without adjusting the budget, systems, or capacity. That’s where KWS has been,” he remarked.
Dr. Kanga disclosed that KWS currently manages 20 percent of Kenya’s landmass dedicated to wildlife conservation, spanning national parks, reserves, and community conservancies.
Yet, despite a remarkable rise in revenue from Sh 4 billion in 2022 to nearly Sh 8 billion in the 2024/25 financial year the Service still faces a funding deficit of over Sh 11 billion to meet its annual operational needs.
According to the Director General, recent studies conducted by independent conservation and tourism experts revealed that Kenya offers some of the most affordable world-class wildlife viewing experiences.
In contrast, countries like Rwanda charge up to $1,500 to view gorillas for an hour, while Kenya charges only $43 to access parks like Nairobi National Park, which hosts similar primate species such as baboons and a rich diversity of wildlife.
“Our wildlife is wild and free-roaming. We are undervaluing our treasures,” he said, urging Kenyans to support the proposed fee adjustments to ensure long-term sustainability.
The revised fee structure, he assured, will remain affordable for Kenyan citizens and residents, while introducing a special “African rate” to attract visitors from across the continent.
It also incorporates incentives for longer stays, off-peak travel, and new experiences such as night game drives, hot air balloon safaris, canoeing, and guided hikes.
“We want visitors to see more, stay longer, and spend more so that both the economy and environment benefit together,” Dr. Kanga added.
The proposed fees, he emphasized, are market-sensitive and developed in consultation with tourism stakeholders, with no abrupt or unrealistic hikes.
Failure to act on the proposed fee adjustments, Dr. Kanga warned, risks undermining Kenya’s conservation gains and threatening livelihoods in tourism-dependent communities.
“If we do nothing, the cost will be far greater. Our parks will degrade, communities will give up, and tourists will seek better-managed destinations elsewhere,” he cautioned.
Dr. Kanga noted that while the Service has made notable conservation progress increasing lion numbers to 2,181 and elephant populations to over 36,000 the success is fragile without sustainable financing.
“This is not just a KWS agenda, it is a national calling. Let’s stand together to ensure that our children and grandchildren inherit a Kenya where wildlife thrives, communities prosper, and nature endures forever,” he affirmed.
Nancy Mathenge, an Independent member of KWS Board of Trustees, reiterated the Service’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity.
“This is not just about raising fees. It is about raising standards, commitment, and our capacity to protect what truly matters our national heritage,” she said.
Mathenge noted that Kenya’s parks are not only tourist destinations but ecosystems that sustain the country’s biodiversity, water towers, and economic livelihoods.
“As we deliberate on these proposals, let us remember our responsibility to safeguard our natural legacy for generations to come,” she said.
She called on citizens, policy makers, and the private sector to view the revised conservation charges as a shared investment in resilience and sustainability.
KWS has committed to reinvesting revenue into expanding community-based conservation programs, employment, infrastructure upgrades, anti-poaching technology, and climate resilience efforts.
The Service already runs robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives supporting schools, hospitals, and water projects in communities living near national parks.
Currently, 75% of all park visitors are Kenyan citizens, with over 3.38 million visitors recorded in the last financial year.
Wildlife tourism contributes about 10% of Kenya’s GDP, amounting to approximately Sh 680 billion, and employs thousands directly and indirectly.
Public feedback from the forum, along with submissions received through email and the online document portal, will be consolidated and considered before final approval and gazettement of the 2025 conservation fee regulations.
By Naif Rashid
