A wave of anger rippled through Nairobi’s tourism sector on Thursday as industry players took to the streets to oppose new gateway fees for national park entry — charges they say are crippling business and defying a court order.
The group, made up of tour operators, travel agents, and wildlife stakeholders, marched from Uhuru Park to the Tourism Fund Offices on Valley Road. Many carried placards reading, “Gateway to Greed? Close it!” and “Respect Court Rules: Stop New Park Fee Increase.”
Their protest follows the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife’s introduction of gateway fees — transaction charges ranging from 5 to 8.5 percent — as part of a new digital payment system linked to the eCitizen platform.
Court Suspends the Fees — but Charges Persist
In October, the High Court temporarily halted the implementation of the new fees pending a full hearing on November 25, 2025, after the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) filed a petition challenging their legality.
Yet, despite the court order, stakeholders say the charges remain active on the eCitizen platform.
“When you try to pay, the system still includes the gateway fee,” said one protester. “We are asking — who is responsible for this? The ministry, KWS, or eCitizen?”
Blame Game Between Agencies
The demonstrators accused the Ministry of Tourism, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and eCitizen of pointing fingers at each other rather than taking responsibility.
“We’ve come to the Tourism Fund Offices today to seek answers,” said one representative. “We were told the Cabinet Secretary is abroad, so we’ll speak to the Principal Secretary. If that doesn’t work, we’ll take this to Parliament.”
He added, “KWS denies involvement, saying it’s an eCitizen issue. But eCitizen says it’s just following the ministry’s instructions. Meanwhile, we, the operators, are suffering.”
Business and Legal Frustrations Grow
The dispute stems from the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access, Entry and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations 2025, which Parliament approved in late September. The framework sought to modernise payments but has instead triggered confusion and public outrage.
Tourism operators argue that the fees, introduced without clear consultation, have already led to booking cancellations and increased costs for both domestic and international tourists.
“The court was very clear — stop the charges,” said another protester. “So why are we still paying them? It feels like contempt of court.”
Awaiting Clarity and Accountability
As the case heads back to court later this month, the sector remains in limbo. The Ministry of Tourism and KWS have not issued a public statement clarifying who authorised the ongoing deductions.
For now, Kenya’s tourism stakeholders say their fight is about more than money — it’s about transparency.
“We just want fairness,” one operator said as the march concluded. “Let the law be respected, and let the people who keep this industry alive be heard.”