KWS to fund operations independently amid record tourism and reforms

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) will, for the first time in years, fund its operations without Treasury support, amid reforms aimed at strengthening the agency’s financial independence and boosting wildlife conservation.

Speaking during a fact-finding mission at Tsavo West National Park on Saturday, KWS Director General Professor Erastus Kanga said the agency will not require funds from the National Treasury in the next financial year, crediting recent reforms, including the recruitment of 1,500 officers and a review of conservation fees, for improving revenue generation.

“I can confidently say that with the current tourism trends, KWS will not require funding from the National Treasury because the reforms at the KWS have borne fruit and we are generating more resources to sustain the conservation body,” Kanga said.

He highlighted ongoing expansions, such as the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, which now spans more than 3,200 square kilometres, up from 92 square kilometres, making it the largest rhino sanctuary in the world. The sanctuary can now accommodate over 2,000 black rhinos, compared with about 150 previously.

Kanga declined to disclose the park’s annual revenue, estimated to run into billions of shillings, noting the data was not immediately available. He said Tsavo is driving local economic growth by stimulating supply chains, transport services, community enterprises and small businesses linked to the wildlife economy.

Local leaders, including Governor Andrew Mwadime, acknowledged that despite the substantial resources generated by the parks, little of the revenue is reinvested in rural development within the counties.

In its recently released scorecard reviewing its achievements over the past three years, KWS noted that visitor numbers have surged from 2.36 million in 2022 to 3.38 million in 2025, a 43 per cent increase, with domestic tourism now accounting for almost 70 per cent of all visitors. Annual revenue has also nearly doubled from Sh4 billion to Sh7.98 billion.

The report also revealed that KWS now funds 90 per cent of its operations internally, a milestone that has strengthened financial independence and long-term sustainability. The agency has also introduced satellite internet connectivity across all parks and reserves, and advanced monitoring technologies, including Earth-Ranger, LoRa-WAN networks, drones, thermal cameras, GPS collars, and long-range radios to guide patrols, track wildlife and detect threats early.

On wildlife protection, KWS reported no rhino poaching incidents in the 2024/25 financial year. The national rhino population has grown from 1,890 in 2022 to 2,102 in 2024, supported by new sanctuaries in Loisaba and Segera, Laikipia County.

Responding to a Presidential directive, KWS conducted the largest recruitment of rangers in its history, hiring 1,274 officers across all 47 counties, with 147 cadets preparing for deployment. The expansion enabled the creation of seven new ranger companies, a specialised tactical unit, and multiple rapid-response outposts nationwide.

The agency has also overseen historic wildlife relocations and veterinary interventions. Over 3,600 animals have been translocated to restore ecological balance and reduce farmland pressure, including 53 elephants from Mwea National Reserve to the Aberdare ecosystem. In a world-first, 10 mountain bongos were released into the Mawingu Sanctuary in Mt. Kenya, and 43 black rhinos were moved to Loisaba and Segera conservancies.

Kanga emphasised that the reforms, technology integration and strategic investments have positioned KWS to operate independently while expanding conservation impact and benefiting local communities.

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