Court Stops KWS Move to Increase Park Fees

The High Court has temporarily halted the Kenya Wildlife Service’s (KWS) plan to implement new park entry fees that were set to take effect on October 1, following a legal challenge by the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF).

In a conservatory order issued by Justice John Chigiti at Milimani High Court on Thursday, the court stopped KWS from enforcing the fee increase pending a full hearing of the case.

The move comes after KTF, representing tourism industry stakeholders, filed a suit arguing that the new fees were announced on September 29 with only two days’ notice, too short a timeframe for tour operators to adapt.

In a letter addressed to KWS Director General Erastus Kanga, KTF Chairman Fred Odek stated that the sudden announcement disregarded previous industry requests for the fees to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Court Blocks KWS

“Whereas many stakeholders are clear that they had no issue with the quantum of the increase, there were major concerns about the implementation date. The recent announcement gives just two days’ notice, which creates untold problems for tour and other operators,” Odek said.

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The court’s order requires KTF to file a substantive application within seven days, with KWS and other respondents expected to respond within seven days of service. The matter is scheduled for mention on November 11.

Until then, the new park entry fees remain suspended, providing a temporary reprieve for Kenya’s tourism operators as the dispute is resolved.

The updated system introduced seasonal variation in park entry fees, designating July through March as the high season, while April to June would be considered the low season.

Fee structures were also adjusted based on the visitor’s status, whether they are Kenyan citizens, residents, or international tourists.

New Park Fee

For Nairobi National Park, the entry fee for residents increased from Ksh430 to Ksh1,000. Foreign visitors now pay USD 80 (approximately Ksh10,360), up from the previous USD 43 (around Ksh5,570).

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Higher-tier parks like Amboseli and Lake Nakuru set local rates at Ksh1,500 and foreigner fees at Ksh11,660. Mid-range parks such as Meru and Aberdare introduced charges of Ksh800 for locals and USD 70 (about Ksh9,070) for non-residents, while Hell’s Gate Park was priced at Ksh500.

Annual passes were priced at Ksh45,000 for adults and Ksh10,400 for children. A family package, covering two adults and up to five children, was offered at Ksh130,000.

Additionally, the policy granted free entry to senior citizens aged 70 and above, as well as persons with disabilities.

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