A high court in Kenya has blocked the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) from enforcing increased park entry fees after approving an urgent interdict from the country’s private-sector tourism body, the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF).
KTF Chairperson Fred Odek told Tourism Update that the federation sought legal intervention to temporarily halt the increase, which was due to take effect from October 1.
“Our protest isn’t necessarily about the increase but about the extremely short notice given before implementation was due to come into effect,” said Odek.
The park fee increases were approved by Parliament on September 25 under the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations Act 2025.
The KWS subsequently confirmed the implementation on September 29 – less than two days from when the increases would take effect.
The Milimani High Court granted the KTF’s request to suspend the increase until a legal review is complete. The matter is scheduled to be heard on November 25.
Operators have voiced concern that the new park fees will harm Kenya’s attractiveness as a tourism destination.
In a Tourism Update poll conducted in July, an overwhelming 93% of respondents said Kenya risked outpricing itself with steep entry fee increases.
