Locals Welcome Revised Wildlife Service Conservation Fees

By Robby Ngoba

Tourism stakeholders in Kilifi County have welcomed the review of the Kenya Wildlife Service Conservation fees saying that it will enable the agency to be self-reliant.

Speaking during a public participation forum held at Turtle Bay Resort in Watamu, the players said that inflation and the high cost of fuel has hampered conservation efforts for KWS leading to poor management especially in the parks.

KWS directly manages 8 percent of Kenya’s land mass and 12 percent land occupied by game reserves in the country.

The proposed changes, outlined in the draft Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation Fees) Regulations, 2025, seek to ensure sustainable financing for KWS operations, which have been severely strained by rising costs, stagnated income, and escalating threats to biodiversity.

In the 2024/2025 financial year, KWS generated Ksh.7.92 billion against the projected of Ksh.19.79 billion.

Patrick Changawa, a tourism player dealing with Safari Selling across the Coast region said that tourists have been getting a raw deal due to inadequate resources by KWS especially when it came to wildlife control in the Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks and that the reviewed fees if enacted into law, will enable the agency to have enough resources to contain vices such as poaching and drought that have wiped out animals in the past.

“It’s unfortunate that KWS still relies on a fee structure established 18 years ago, yet inflation and the rising cost of living have significantly affected revenue generation. KWS uses 91% of the collected fees for park security and conservation and a review is long overdue,” he said.

In terms of compensation fees for human wildlife conflicts victims, Changawa said that the increased fees will enable the agency to be vigilant and respond to distress calls before the conflicts take place and he challenged KWS to introduce vigorous public sensitization forums to give them knowledge on how to handle stray wildlife to minimize accidents.

“Recently, the CS for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano was in Marafa where she disbursed over Sh.60 million compensation to victims of human-wildlife conflicts, I urge them to introduce sensitization forums especially in areas bordering their sites so that the people there can know how to handle stray wildlife to minimize accidents. If this is done, then it would reduced alot of money in the process, said Changawa.

Geoffrey Wambua Maundu who is the Secretary General of the Umoja Watamu Beach Operators Association, which operates within the Watamu Marine protected area, said that this was the first-time local stakeholders were being involved in reviewing entry fees, a step he described as positive and long-awaited.

“During deliberations, we reviewed the proposed rates and agreed that for foreign visitors, the marine park entry fee should not exceed 22 dollars, up from the current 17 dollars. We also urge KWS to channel the additional revenue if approved towards ensuring our conservation products meet international standards,” said Wambua.

Elema Hapicha, the Senior Assistant Director in charge of Coast Conservation Area, confirmed that KWS is conducting nationwide public engagement forums to collect feedback on the proposed conservation fee adjustments.

“The views we’re gathering will guide our efforts to manage protected areas more effectively. With parks occupying 8% of Kenya’s total land mass and 12% when conservancies are included, significant resources are needed to maintain and protect these areas,” she said.

The last conservation reviews were done 18 years ago with KWS currently operating with a Sh.12 billion deficit which has hampered its operations.