The Kenya Wildlife Service has extended the closing date for expression of interest that it had given to the private sector to grab over 100 investment opportunities in national parks, reserves, sanctuaries and stations.
KWS in an addendum extended the closing date to October 5.
“Kenya Wildlife Service wishes to make clarifications/ amendments on the tender reference Nos. as follows; EOI Reference no. KWS/EOI/M &BD/02/2023-2024-Guidelines for Expression of Interest in Development and Management of Tourism Facilities at Various locations in KWS National Parks, Reserves, Sanctuaries and Stations.”
“The closing date for the above reference tenders has been extended to October 5, 2023 at 11am.”
Initially, the closing date was September 21 noon.
The objective of the Expression of Interest (EOI) is for KWS to receive information from investors that demonstrate capability and experience in developing and managing high quality tourism facilities at various locations in KWS national parks, reserves, sanctuaries and stations.
On August 23, Tourism CS Peninah Malonza unveiled the 122 investments opportunities.
Facilities to be put up include eco lodge, tented camps, visitor recreation among others.
The CS said there are immense opportunities up for grabs even as the sector recovers from shocks.
"The government is committed to diverse tourism development initiatives, aiming to stimulate investment, job growth, consumer spending, tax revenue, and GDP. We emphasise action through strategic partnerships, collaborating with the National Airline, counties, and the private sector to amplify our collective impact," Malonza said.
The World Travel and Tourism Council predict that tourism in Kenya will make a strong recovery in 2023, contributing 6.7 per cent to the economy, which is around Sh938.8 billion.
This is an 8.6 per cent increase from 2013 and a positive 1.8 per cent growth from 2019.
Malonza said projections suggest that by 2033, tourism could contribute 7.5% (Sh.1.6 trillion) with a steady 5.2% annual growth.
According to KWS head of Marketing and Business Development Gladys Kosgei, the annual lease rates for premium parks will approximately cost Sh12 million, wilderness (Sh9 million), scenic/ special interest (Sh7 million) and stations (Sh5 million).
Kosgei said 12-100 beds are negotiable.
“We have 71 eco lodges/ tented camps and six mountain and climbing huts,” Kosgei said.
Other investments include 10 restaurants, seven shops, one hostel, six Bandas, eight products/experience, 11 open uses, one tree house and one convention centre.
Kosgei said there are six opportunities for eco lodges/ tented camps, one convention centre, two restaurants, one product/ experiences and five open use opportunities bringing the total to 15 within Southern conservation areas.
In Central Rift conservation areas, the available opportunities include six opportunities for eco lodges/ tented camps, two restaurants, two products/experiences, one open use, bringing the total to 11.
Within Tsavo, there are 17 opportunities for eco lodges/ tented camps, one restaurant, four shops, one product/ experience, bringing the total to 22.
In Western conservation area, there are seven eco lodges/ tented camps, one mountain hut, two restaurants, one product/ experience and one tree house, bringing total to 12.
Eastern has 15 opportunities composed of three shops, one hostel, three bandas/guest houses, one product/ experience, bringing total to 22.
Coast has investment opportunities of four eco lodges/ tented camps, one restaurant, one Banda/guest house and three open uses, bringing total to nine.
In Mountain Conservation area, there are 11 eco lodges/tented camps, five mountain huts, one restaurant, two bandas/guest houses, three products/experiences, one open use, bringing the total to 23.
Northern Kenya has five eco lodges opportunities, one restaurant, one product experience and one open use bringing the total to eight opportunities.
Tented camp or eco lodge will be leased for 20 years which is renewable while restaurants/ shops/ experiences have 10 years that is renewable.
Acreage for tented camp or eco lodge is five to 20 acres depending on facility location and terrain while restaurants/ shops/ experience will cover one to five acres.
Tenants will have to insure the premises.
There will be six to 18 months free ground rent for tented camp/ ecolodge while for restaurant/shops and experience will vary depending on facility location.
For the second year, rent is 50 per cent of ground rent while for the third year; rent will be 75 per cent of ground rent.
