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By Mandere Onyinkwa
The government has announced sweeping reforms to the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations, 2025.
This is aimed at boosting conservation financing, inclusivity, and the visitor experience in Kenya’s national parks and reserves.
Speaking at the launch, the Cabinet Secretary said the regulations are designed to strike a balance between sustainability and accessibility. “These regulations are not about a change in price. They are about value—the value of conservation in our national development,” he emphasised.
Currently, the Kenya Wildlife Service collects KSh 7.98 billion annually in conservation fees, but under the new framework this figure is projected to grow to KSh 16.5 billion by 2028. The revenue will be channelled towards funding rangers, restoring habitats, and improving visitor facilities.
The regulations also prioritise inclusivity. Persons with disabilities will be exempted from park entry fees, senior citizens over 70 from East Africa will enjoy free access, and children under five will not pay.
Tour guides, drivers, porters, and boat operators—who are central to the tourism industry—will also enjoy free entry. “Clearly, we have listened, we have balanced, and we have provided,” the CS said to applause.
Beyond financial sustainability, the reforms seek to diversify visitor experiences. In addition to game drives, visitors will access immersive activities such as animal tracking, conservation projects, cultural tourism, and adventure experiences.
These, officials said, will encourage exploration of lesser-known parks and create new opportunities for local communities and youth.
Calling for unity, the CS urged all Kenyans to view conservation as a collective responsibility: “Together, let us conserve. Together, let us manage. Together, let us pass on a Kenya where the roar of a lion, the call of a fish eagle, and the rustle of the savannah grass remain not just stories in history books, but a living, thriving, and eternal reality.”
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The Kenyan government has unveiled a new set of Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations, 2025, introducing far-reaching changes intended to secure more funding for conservation, promote inclusivity, and enrich the experience of visitors to national parks and reserves.
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Kenya Unveils Bold New Wildlife Conservation Fees Framework
The Kenyan government has unveiled a new set of Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations, 2025, introducing far-reaching changes intended to secure more funding for conservation, promote inclusivity, and enrich the experience of visitors to national parks and reserves.
Speaking at the launch, the Cabinet Secretary said the regulations are designed to strike a balance between sustainability and accessibility. “These regulations are not about a change in price. They are about value—the value of conservation in our national development,” he emphasised.
Currently, the Kenya Wildlife Service collects KSh 7.98 billion annually in conservation fees, but under the new framework this figure is projected to grow to KSh 16.5 billion by 2028. The revenue will be channelled towards funding rangers, restoring habitats, and improving visitor facilities.
The regulations also prioritise inclusivity. Persons with disabilities will be exempted from park entry fees, senior citizens over 70 from East Africa will enjoy free access, and children under five will not pay. Tour guides, drivers, porters, and boat operators—who are central to the tourism industry—will also enjoy free entry. “Clearly, we have listened, we have balanced, and we have provided,” the CS said to applause.
Beyond financial sustainability, the reforms seek to diversify visitor experiences. In addition to game drives, visitors will access immersive activities such as animal tracking, conservation projects, cultural tourism, and adventure experiences. These, officials said, will encourage exploration of lesser-known parks and create new opportunities for local communities and youth.
Calling for unity, the CS urged all Kenyans to view conservation as a collective responsibility: “Together, let us conserve. Together, let us manage. Together, let us pass on a Kenya where the roar of a lion, the call of a fish eagle, and the rustle of the savannah grass remain not just stories in history books, but a living, thriving, and eternal reality.”