The High Court has frozen the newly revised park entry fees by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), dealing a blow to the State agency, which banked on the higher charges to bridge a Sh12 billion annual budget deficit.
Justice John Chigiti issued the conservatory order following a petition by the Kenya Tourist Federation, representing tourism industry stakeholders, arguing that the move would affect the country’s global position as a safari destination.
They argue that the new fees were announced on September 29, 2025, just two days before they took effect on October 1, 2025, thus denying them adequate stakeholder engagement.
According to them, the decision was marked by statutory breach, and there was a short timeframe for the tour operators to adapt and comply.
The implementation of the new entry fees for national parks, reserves, and sanctuaries started on October 1, 2025, in a move that marked the first comprehensive revision of charges in nearly two decades.
The rollout was after Parliament approved the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations, 2025, on September 25.
The contested new framework introduced a four-tier visitor categorisation system: East African citizens, Kenyan residents, African citizens, and non-residents, with each of the categories providing a distinct fee structure.
For example, it provides that East African citizens (adults) will pay Sh1,000 for entry into the Nairobi National Park, and Kenyan residents will be charged Sh1,350. African visitors from outside the East African Community will pay $40 (approximately Sh5,169.60) while international visitors from other continents will pay $80 (approximately Sh10,339.20).
Students and children’s rates are set at Sh500 for East African citizens to access the Nairobi National Park, Sh675 for Kenyan residents, $20 (Sh2,500) for African citizens, and $40 for non-residents.
Kenyan citizens aged 70 and above, children under five years, and persons with disabilities will have free access to parks. The Kenya Tourist Federation says these changes need meaningful input from all stakeholders.
They want the court to issue an order of prohibition, stopping KWS from implementing or enforcing the new fees until “proper public participation, stakeholders’ consultation and fair administrative process is conducted”.
In the directions issued by Justice Chigiti, KWS is required to respond to the suit within seven days, while the case is scheduled for mention on November 11.
This is the second time a plan by KWS to raise service fees is facing resistance over inadequate public participation.
In November 2023, the tourism sector players along the Kenyan coast sued against new fees introduced by the State agency through the 2024 to 2025 Conservation Fees regulations.
