Calls Grow in Uasin Gishu for Updated Park Fees to Strengthen Conservation and Tourism
The interviewees further insisted that decades of fee stagnation have begged efforts to restore and preserve wildlife populations
Senior Assistant Director responsible for the Central Rift Conservation Area at public participation in Uasin Gishu
By Ruth Sang
There have been demands in Uasin Gishu County to revise conservation charges since citizens demand a new regime of pricing that will be responsive to modern environmental and economic realities. At a recent public participation meeting, members were in favor of alterations to strengthen the protection of wildlife while positioning the county as a model tourist facility.
The meeting, summoned by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), is a component of an overall national process to review park and reserve entrance fees. The last time the fees were increased was in 2007 amidst severe environmental emergencies and mounting demand for more robust conservation initiatives.
The interviewees further insisted that decades of fee stagnation have begged efforts to restore and preserve wildlife populations. They cited the case of the sitatunga antelope, a species found in low numbers and under threat from swamp habitat. Residents said conservation efforts should prioritize restoring such a threatened species to ensure biodiversity and ecological balance in the area.
Apart from conservation, locals mentioned the untapped potential of Uasin Gishu as a tourist destination. The presence of an international airport in Eldoret, they mentioned that reconsidering fees and increased wildlife conservation would attract more tourists—both local and foreign. This, they explained, would spur economic growth through employment and generation of revenue to surrounding communities.
Speaking at the event, Gideon Kebati, Senior Assistant Director responsible for the Central Rift Conservation Area, explained that the exercise is meant to come up with a balanced and forward-looking framework.
“The review seeks to make mechanisms for saving funds effective without overburdening adjacent communities. As the last review was carried out nearly two decades ago, it is clearly necessary to make adjustments to current-day environmental and fiscal realities,” Kebati elucidated.
The feedback gathered from Uasin Gishu citizens will be combined with data from similar forums across the country. The feedback will assist in preparing a full proposal to be read and signed up for implementation.
KWS has invited all Kenyans to play an active role in shaping the future of conservation rates by sending written feedback to ‘[rates@kws.go.ke](mailto:rates@kws.go.ke)’. The strategy is open-ended with a vision of designing a sustainable and fair price structure that promotes wildlife conservation and community development.
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