Court halts implementation of KWS' park entry fee hike
The move comes shortly after KWS began applying the new conservation fees on October 1, a decision that has stirred widespread debate.
The Milimani High Court has temporarily blocked the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) from enforcing newly revised park entry fees, following a petition by the Kenya Tourism Federation.
The court’s conservatory orders on Thursday pause the application of the fees until the case is fully heard.
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Justice John Chigiti Mugwimi granted the federation’s request against the State Law Office and KWS, with the matter scheduled for mention on November 25, 2025.
The move comes shortly after KWS began applying the new conservation fees on October 1, a decision that has stirred widespread debate.
The revised fees were introduced under the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations 2025, approved by Parliament on September 25. Entry charges were to vary by season, with July to March designated as the high season and April to June as the low season.
Fees were also set based on visitor category, distinguishing between Kenyan citizens, residents, and foreigners.
Under the new system, Nairobi National Park entry for residents was raised from SH430 to Sh1,000, while foreigners were expected to pay USD80 (Sh10,360), up from USD43 (Sh5,570).
Premium parks such as Amboseli and Lake Nakuru were to charge Sh1,500 for locals and Sh11,660 for foreigners.
Mid-tier parks like Meru and Aberdare were to charge Sh800 for residents and USD70 (Sh9,070) for foreigners, while Hell’s Gate’s fee was set at Sh500.
The policy also introduced annual passes priced at Sh45,000 for adults and Sh10,400 for children, with a family package for two adults and up to five children costing Sh130,000. Free entry was to be granted to senior citizens aged 70 and above and persons with disabilities.
The Kenya Tourism Federation challenged the fee changes, arguing they could negatively affect tourism, particularly during periods when demand is low. The court’s temporary suspension ensures that the new rates will not take effect until the legal review is complete.
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