The Milimani High Court has temporarily suspended the implementation of newly revised Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) park entry fees, following a petition filed by the Kenya Tourism Federation.
Justice John Chigiti Mugwimi issued the conservatory orders on Thursday, halting the new charges until November 25, when the case will be mentioned.
KWS had begun enforcing the revised conservation fees on October 1, sparking widespread debate. The charges were based on the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations 2025, which Parliament approved on September 25.
Under the new system, park fees would vary by season and visitor category. For instance, Nairobi National Park charges for Kenyan residents were set to rise from Ksh430 to Ksh1,000, while foreigners would pay USD80 (Ksh10,360), up from USD43 (Ksh5,570).
Premium parks such as Amboseli and Lake Nakuru were to charge Ksh1,500 for locals and Ksh11,660 for foreigners, while mid-tier parks like Aberdare and Meru were set at Ksh800 for locals and USD70 (Ksh9,070) for foreigners. Hell’s Gate fees were pegged at Ksh500.
The policy also introduced annual passes Ksh45,000 for adults, Ksh10,400 for children, and Ksh130,000 for families as well as free entry for senior citizens above 70 years and persons with disabilities.
The court’s decision offers temporary relief to tourists and conservation stakeholders as the case continues.
