The Milimani High Court has temporarily suspended the Kenya Wildlife Service’s (KWS) plan to implement sharply increased park entry fees, effective October 1.
This move provides a much-needed respite to the tourism industry, which had raised urgent concerns about the abrupt changes.
On Thursday, Justice J. Chigiti issued a ruling granting a temporary stay after the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) filed an application challenging the new fees, arguing they were introduced with what many considered insufficient notice.
The legal process is now underway, with the court directing the State Law Office and KWS to file their responses within seven days of being served the substantive motion. The KTF will then have a further seven days to present its submissions. This judicial intervention comes as a direct result of the industry’s alarm over the new fees, which were enacted with only 48 hours’ notice.
Tour operators argued that such a swift implementation left them unable to adjust existing travel packages, renegotiate contracts with clients, or communicate effectively with international and domestic tourists who had already made substantial financial commitments to their Kenyan safaris.
The controversial fee structure is anchored in the Wildlife Conservation and Management Regulations 2025, which was approved by Parliament on September 25. The wildlife agency defended the increases as long overdue, noting that the last comprehensive review was conducted 18 years ago and that rising management costs necessitated the adjustment.
The proposed hikes were substantial; for instance, entry to Nairobi National Park was set to jump from Sh430 to up to Sh1,350 for residents, and from Sh5,553.45 ($43) to Sh10,322 ($80) for foreign visitors. Premium parks like Amboseli and Lake Nakuru were slated to charge Sh1,500 for locals and up to Sh11,660 for foreigners.
While not opposing the fee hikes outright, the KTF’s plea to the court is for a more manageable timeline. The industry body is advocating for a postponement of the new fees until January 1, 2026, a date originally recommended during stakeholder consultations.
This extended lead time would provide the necessary window for all parties in the tourism value chain to adjust their operations and communicate changes transparently with their clients.
The goal is to ensure that the vital tourism sector can continue to thrive, supporting the crucial work of wildlife conservation without causing immediate disruption or reputational damage to the country’s esteemed tourism brand. The case will be mentioned again on November 25, 2025, at which point the future of the new fee structure will become clearer.
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