The Milimani High Court has stopped the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) from enforcing newly revised park entry fees, pending the hearing of a petition filed by the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF).
On Thursday, Justice J. Chigiti issued conservatory orders suspending the charges, which KWS had begun implementing on October 1. The new conservation fees were anchored in the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations 2025, approved by Parliament on September 25.
In his ruling, Justice Chigiti allowed prayers 1, 2 and 3 of KTF’s application filed on September 30 against the State Law Office and KWS.
“The Respondents shall file and serve their response within 7 days from the date of service of the substantive Motion,” he ruled.
“The Applicant shall file and serve their submissions within 7 days of the date of service by the Respondent.”
The revised fee structure introduced seasonal charges, with July to March classified as the high season and April to June as the low season. It also set different rates for Kenyan citizens, residents, and non-residents.
Tell Me More – Visiting Kenya’s Parks? These Are the New Entry Fees Effective October 2025
Tourism industry pushes back on timelines
Although KTF does not oppose the higher charges, which it discussed with KWS during public participation alongside the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) and the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers, it criticized the rushed timelines for implementation.
In a letter to KWS Director General Erastus Kanga, KTF noted that KWS issued a notice on September 29 announcing the new fees, which took effect just two days later on October 1.
“This sudden implementation comes despite industry requests during the recent public participation for a start date of 1st January, 2026,” KTF chairman Fred Odek had said.
“Whereas many stakeholders are clear that they had no issue with the quantum of the increase, there were major concerns about the implementation date. The recent announcement gives just two days’ notice, which creates untold problems for tour and other operators.”
Sector warns of disruption
According to KTF, tourism operates on long-term planning cycles, and many of its members already have bookings confirmed with clients through December 2025 based on the prevailing conservation fees.
The federation warned that sudden enforcement of new charges would disrupt operations by preventing tour operators from honoring existing agreements or renegotiating prices. The rushed timelines, it argued, left no room to adjust packages or properly communicate changes to international and domestic clients, many of whom had already made significant financial commitments.
“This will definitely lead to cancellations, disputes and reputational damage,” Odek said in his letter.
KTF has asked KWS to defer the new conservation fees to January 1, 2026, the date stakeholders originally proposed. The federation stressed that extending the timeline would give the industry time to adjust and engage with clients while ensuring the conservation goals behind the new charges are still achieved.
The case will be mentioned on November 25, 2025.
The post High Court Suspends New KWS Park Charges Over Short Notice Complaints appeared first on Bossnana.
