The Milimani High Court has temporarily stopped Kenya Wildlife Services from implementing the new park entry charges that took effect on October 1.
The ruling follows a case filed by the Kenya Tourism Federation questioning the legality of the revised fees.
Justice John Chigiti Mugwimi granted the federation’s request against KWS and the State Law Office, with the matter set for mention on November 25, 2025. The order means the new fees cannot be applied until the case is further heard.
The fee adjustments, approved by Parliament on September 25 under the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations 2025, have sparked debates among tourism operators and visitors.
The changes were designed to vary by season, with the high season from July to March and the low season from April to June, and also differ for locals, residents, and international tourists.
For instance, Nairobi National Park fees for Kenyan residents were set to rise from Sh430 to Sh1,000, while foreign visitors were expected to pay USD80 (Sh10,360), up from USD43 (Sh5,570).
Premium destinations like Amboseli and Lake Nakuru were priced at Sh1,500 for locals and Sh11,660 for non-residents. Mid-range parks such as Meru and Aberdare were to charge Sh800 for locals and USD70 (Sh9,070) for foreigners, while Hell’s Gate entry was set at Sh500.
The policy also included new annual passes, costing Sh45,000 for adults and Sh10,400 for children. Families of two adults and up to five children would pay Sh130,000.
Senior citizens aged 70 and above and persons with disabilities were granted free access.
The court’s decision pauses the introduction of the new fees, giving time for the legal challenge to be considered and leaving visitors unaffected for now.