logo
ADVERTISEMENT

KWS seeks public views on increased park fees

The proposed charges will run between 2023-2025.

image
by The Star

Realtime13 January 2023 - 07:49
ADVERTISEMENT

In Summary


  • The agency will from January 30 hold public participation forums in at least nine counties across the country.
  • The exercise will run until February 23.
The new two-day-old, southern white rhino calf and the mother Maimuana as spotted in Lake Nakuru National Park

The Kenya Wildlife Service has called for views from members of the public on the review of entry fees into perks.

The agency is seeking to enhance its revenues in the 2023-2025 period through increased charges to National Parks, reserves and sanctuaries.

The agency will from January 30 hold public participation forums in at least nine counties across the country.

The exercise will run until February 23.

"In the spirit of public participation as envisaged in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013, KWS invites stakeholders and members of the public for consultative public forums on the proposed conservation fees for 2023-2025," KWS said in a public notice.

On January 30, KWS will be collecting public views at their headquarters in Nairobi while on February 8 the team will be at Tom Mboya in Kisumu.

On February 9, the team will hold a forum at Sirikwa Hotel in Eldoret before moving to Education Hall in Nakuru on February 10.

Another forum will be held at Leopard Beach and Resort in Diani on February 13 before moving to Mombasa for another event at Mombasa Beach Hotel on February 14.

On February 15, KWS will be at Turtle Bay Beach Club in Watamu while on February 16 they will move to Voi Wildlife Resort.

The team will be in Nyeri's Sportsman Arms on February 20 and then move to Meru slope on February 21.

In Marsabit, the KWS team will hold a forum at Marsabit Conference Hall on February 23.

All the forums will start at 10 am on the provided dates and venues.

KWS collects revenues and charges due from the National Government and develops mechanisms to sustainably fund wildlife conservation activities.

Last year, KWS announced a review of gate charges to national parks and game reserves in Kenya by introducing high and low season fees. 

The new park fees which will start in December 2023 will see foreigners pay higher amounts while Kenyans benefit from reduced fees during the low season.

Foreigners pay up to Sh1,100 more to visit Nakuru and Amboseli National Parks after the rates were adjusted to Sh8,104 ($70) in the high season from Sh6,946 ($60).

They pay Sh2,894 ($25) to visit Maasai Mara in the high season up from a flat rate of Sh1,505 ($13).

They also pay Sh6,946 ($60) to visit the Nairobi National Park in the peak season from a flat fee of Sh. 4,978 ($43).

Fees in the low season is Sh4,630 ($40).

According to KWS, the high season will run until February 29 while the low season will be between March 1 to June 30.

ADVERTISEMENT

logo© The Star 2024. All rights reserved