CS Mbadi Announces Increase In Park Entry Fee After Recent Hike
Kenyans may have to pay more to enjoy the country’s beautiful scenery after Treasury CS John Mbadi announced intentions to add another levy to park entry fees.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 27, the government announced intentions to collect a 1% entry fee to parks, reserves, and conservancies to fund wildlife conservation.
“Section 23 (1) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013 (as amended) establishes the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund,” part of the statement by Mbadi read.
“These Public Finance Management (Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund) were earlier published in December 2023 but are republished on the directions of Parliament to include a 1 percent levy of revenues realized from fees charged for entrance to parks, reserves, conservancies, and sanctuaries to support conservation activities.”
Kenya plans to introduce a 1% levy on entry fees to parks, reserves, and conservancies to fund wildlife conservation:
— Mwango Capital (@MwangoCapital) November 27, 2024
🐾 Funds will go to the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund for restoring protected areas & conserving endangered species.
🗓 Share your comments by 6th Dec 2024… pic.twitter.com/njrLkfeOgc
According to a statement on the National Treasury’s website, the new levy intends to increase donations to the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund, which helps manage and repair protected areas and conservancies while also protecting endangered species.
Tourism is Kenya’s second-largest source of foreign cash, following diaspora remittances and agricultural exports.
According to official figures, the number of visitors to its national parks and game reserves increased by 43%, reaching 3.64 million in 2023.
Kenyans have until December 6, 2024, to express their opinions on the idea.
“Now, under Section 4 (a) and 5 (3) (a) and (b) of the Statutory Instruments Act, 2013, the National Treasury & Economic Planning invites members of the public to submit any comments, inputs, or memoranda they may have on the said draft Public Finance Management (Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund) Regulations, 2023, in the format provided on the website,” the statement continues.
All Kenyans have been directed to submit comments, inputs, or memoranda to the Principal Secretary of the National Treasury.
Submissions may be hand-delivered to the Office of the Principal Secretary at the National Treasury Building in Nairobi or emailed to the Treasury.
Kenyans have also been invited to attend in-person sessions on December 6.
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This move comes after the government previously increased park access costs across the country. In October, Tourism Minister Rebecca Maino defended the increase.
Speaking following the introduction of a new seaside tourist circuit in Kilifi on October 31, 2024, Miano stated that there was a need for a change in the charges because the majority of them had remained in place for years despite the fluctuating nature of the economy.
“The figures that have been proposed I think are reasonable and this came up as a recommendation by the whole industry,” the CS said while in Kilifi.
With these new suggestions, Kenyans may have to pay extra just to visit the parks.
CS Mbadi Announces Increase In Park Entry Fee After Recent Hike
