Tourism Private Sector Warns Industry Faces Ksh370 Million Annual Loss Under New KWS Park Fee System

Nairobi, Kenya, Monday 3rd November 2025; The Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) has warned that changes made to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) park ticketing platform could cost the tourism industry an estimated Ksh370 million annually in hidden “gateway fees.”
The Federation says the new system, rolled out without industry consultation, has disrupted payments, inflated costs, and ignored an existing court order suspending new park fee rates.

Speaking during a press conference in Nairobi, KTF Chairman Fred Odek said the tourism sector is already under pressure, and the additional charges threaten to undermine Kenya’s competitiveness as a global destination.

“The rollout of the new system was premature and non-compliant with a valid court order. Beyond the legal issue, the platform has introduced serious financial and operational challenges for tour operators and travel agents,” said Mr. Odek.

Under the new system, KWS has limited payments to M-PESA and Visa cards, removing the bank transfer option widely used for large or group transactions. In addition, a 5 percent ‘gateway fee’ has been introduced a hidden cost only visible at the point of payment.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife’s Regulatory Impact Statement, total park fee revenue is projected to grow from Ksh7.41 billion in 2024 to Ksh16.58 billion by 2028, meaning industry players could lose at least Ksh370 million annually in unbudgeted costs under the current arrangement.
KTF is calling on the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and KWS to take immediate action by:
Restoring the previous eCitizen-based payment system to allow multiple, flexible payment options.
Suspending the 5 percent gateway fee pending stakeholder consultation and review.
Complying with existing court orders to uphold the rule of law and transparency in system changes.

Mr. Odek emphasized that while KTF supports digital transformation, it must be inclusive, lawful, and fair to all industry stakeholders.

“Digital progress should not translate into economic hardship for legitimate businesses. We remain open to collaboration with KWS and the Ministry, but urgent corrective action is needed,” he said.

About the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF):

The Kenya Tourism Federation is the umbrella body representing private sector associations in Kenya’s tourism industry. It advocates for policies that promote a sustainable and competitive tourism sector while fostering collaboration between the private sector and government agencie

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