KWS backs revenue sharing to boost wildlife conservation efforts
This move comes as Kenya's tourism sector celebrated a successful year in 2024, with revenues totaling Sh460 billion, largely driven by wildlife-related activities.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is pushing for a significant change in tourism revenue distribution, proposing that 10 per cent of the total earnings from tourism be allocated to local communities.
This move comes as Kenya's tourism sector celebrated a successful year in 2024, with revenues totaling Sh460 billion, largely driven by wildlife-related activities.
Dr Erustus Kanga, Director General of KWS, highlighted the growth from the Sh352.5 billion collected in 2023, emphasizing that 75 per cent of the 2024 revenue stemmed directly from wildlife tourism.
"Most tourists visit the country to witness our national heritage wildlife," Dr Kanga noted, revealing that Sh345 billion was specifically generated from wildlife tourism.
Speaking in Isara, Kajiado East Sub-county, during the disbursement of Sh64 million in Human-Wildlife Conflict compensation, Dr Kanga outlined KWS's collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to advocate for the revenue-sharing model.
Under this model, local communities would directly benefit, using the funds for initiatives such as bursaries, water infrastructure, and wildlife corridor conservation.
The announcement was part of a broader initiative supported by Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya, who unveiled plans for a nationwide campaign focused on Human-Wildlife Conflict mitigation and compensation procedures.
The campaign, running for a month, will culminate in the launch of the National Compensation Fund in Meru County on May 26, presided over by President William Ruto.
Local leaders in Kajiado urged KWS to extend compensation considerations to unborn infants in cases where expectant mothers fall victim to wildlife encounters.
