Senate Gives KWS Seven Days to Justify Park Fee Hike and New Gateway Levy
Senate demands KWS explain park fee hike: The Senate has ordered the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to explain its recent hike in national park entry fees and the introduction of an 8.5% gateway levy. KWS has seven days to submit detailed regulations and reappear before the Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialisation, and Tourism on November 27.
Senate Demands Transparency on Fee Increases
Chaired by Kwale Senator Issa Boy Juma, the committee questioned KWS Deputy Director General Erastus Kanja on November 18, 2025, over the sudden fee changes. Senators raised concerns about lack of public participation, disregard for a court order halting the charges, and the legality of the new 8.5% levy—especially since existing rules cap convenience fees at just one dollar.
Court Suspension Ignored, Say Lawmakers
Despite a High Court order in October temporarily suspending the fees pending a November 25 ruling, stakeholders report the charges are still being applied on eCitizen. The fees stem from the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry, and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations of 2025, approved by Parliament on September 25.
Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago stressed that KWS bypassed proper procedure by not routing the regulations through the Cabinet Secretary to the Senate—a breach of Kenya’s devolved governance structure.
Tourism Sector Protests New Charges
On November 6, the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) led protests against the hikes, warning they could cripple recovery in the post-pandemic tourism industry. Operators say the added costs are already deterring visitors.
Lawmakers also demanded documentation on KWS’s new e-pay system, including tender details and the reason for abandoning the eCitizen platform.
