The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has hit a legal snag after the Milimani High Court temporarily suspended the implementation of the newly revised park entry fees. The decision, delivered by Justice J. Chigiti on October 2, 2025, followed an application filed by the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) challenging the recent fee adjustments. The suspension will remain in place until the case is mentioned again on November 25, giving both parties time to submit their responses and written arguments.
The disputed fee structure, which came into effect on September 30, had been gazetted under the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations 2025 and approved by Parliament just days earlier. KWS defended the hike, saying it was the first comprehensive review in nearly two decades and was necessary to meet rising conservation and operational costs. The new rates would have seen local entry charges to Nairobi National Park rise from Sh430 to Sh1,000, while foreign tourists would pay $80 (about Sh10,360). Similar increases were slated for other parks, including Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and Meru.
The ruling comes amid growing tension between conservation authorities and tourism operators, who argue that the higher fees could discourage domestic tourism and harm the hospitality sector’s post-pandemic recovery. The Kenya Tourism Federation welcomed the court’s decision, saying it allows time for more inclusive dialogue and economic impact assessments. Conservationists, meanwhile, urged that the debate should balance affordability with the urgent need to sustain wildlife protection efforts. The court’s final ruling, expected later this year, is likely to set an important precedent for how Kenya manages conservation funding in relation to tourism policy.