The Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) has raised serious concerns over the Kenya Wildlife Service’s (KWS) new park fee payment system, saying the changes were introduced without proper consultation and are already causing financial and operational disruptions across the tourism sector.
KTF, which represents the interests of Kenya’s mainstream private sector associations in tourism, said the rollout of the new payment platform has created uncertainty for tour operators, travel agents, and park visitors, with potential to undermine Kenya’s global competitiveness as a leading tourist destination.
“The rollout of the new KWS park payment system has created unnecessary financial strain and uncertainty for operators who had already priced and contracted tours under the previous arrangements,” said KTF Chairman Fred Odek. “The additional fees and limited payment options translate to unbudgeted losses and threaten existing contracts with our international partners.”
Under the revised system, KWS now accepts only M-PESA and Visa card payments, withdrawing the bank transfer option previously used for group and large transactions. In addition, a new 8.5 percent processing fee has been imposed on all card payments— a rate KTF says is abnormally high compared to other government platforms.
The Federation also criticized the exchange rate used by KWS, set at KSh135 per USD, which is significantly higher than the Central Bank of Kenya’s official rate of about KSh129.50. According to KTF, the inflated rate has increased park entry costs for both domestic and international tourists.
KTF has urged the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, alongside KWS, to urgently address the matter by reinstating bank transfer options, reducing the card processing fee, and aligning the exchange rate with the official Central Bank rate. The Federation further called for structured consultations with tourism industry stakeholders before implementing any future policy or system changes.
“KTF remains committed to working closely with KWS and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to ensure that Kenya’s tourism industry remains sustainable, fair, and competitive,” Mr. Odek added.
The Federation warned that unless the concerns are addressed swiftly, the new system could erode investor confidence and dent Kenya’s appeal as a premier safari destination.