The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has been given seven days to explain the recent park fees increase and 8.5 per cent gateway levy.
The Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialisation, and Tourism, chaired by Kwale Senator Issa Boy Juma, on Tuesday directed KWS to submit the regulations to the Senate and reappear before the committee on November 27.
The committee met with KWS Deputy Director General Erastus Kanja and stated that the new charges have raised serious concerns within the tourism sector.
During the meeting, Juma questioned why KWS increased park fees, how public participation was carried out, and why the agency ignored a court order to stop the new charges.
Juma also asked why KWS introduced an 8.5 per cent gateway levy despite a maximum convenience fee of one dollar being gazetted.
Lawmakers also sought details on the e-pay system, including tender documents, system requirements, and the reason KWS shifted from the eCitizen platform.
Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago stressed the need for KWS to follow the law and said that the Senate must be involved in such regulations.
"After consultation, this committee has given you the opportunity to pursue the matter in court, but we really want to understand why you did not submit the regulations to the Senate through the Cabinet Secretary, despite this being a concurrent function. It is important that we follow the law. There is a reason why the Senate exists,” he stated.
This has caused criticism from a group in the tourism sector. On November 6, they held a protest against the introduction of new charges.
The stakeholders also questioned why the new rates and gateway fees were still being charged on the eCitizen platforms when they were temporarily suspended by a court in October 2025.
The court suspended the charges, pending a final decision on November 25, following a petition from the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF).
These fees are based on the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry, and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations of 2025, which were approved by Parliament on September 25.
