Tourism Stakeholders Raise Alarm Over New KWS Park Fee Payment System

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Tourism stakeholders have raised concern over recent changes introduced by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to the payment system for national park fees, saying the new platform has created financial and operational challenges for tour operators, travel agents, and visitors.

According to KTF, the new KWS payment portal only allows transactions through M-Pesa and Visa cards, with bank transfer options completely withdrawn. In addition, an 8.5 percent processing fee has been introduced for all card payments — a rate that stakeholders say is unusually high compared to other government digital platforms.

Industry players warn that the new system is already disrupting park bookings and operations, especially for international travel agents and tour companies that rely on bank transfers for bulk transactions. Some operators have reported delays and cancellations as a result of the restrictive payment options.

“The move is not only impractical but also unfair to operators handling international clients,” said one stakeholder ahead of the meeting. “The high transaction fee eats into margins and makes Kenya a more expensive destination.”

The press conference, convened by the KTF, will be attended by representatives from the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC), the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO), the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), Eco-Tourism Kenya, and other industry stakeholders.

They are expected to jointly call on KWS and the Ministry of Tourism to review the new system, restore flexible payment options, and ensure digital platforms support — rather than hinder — the growth and accessibility of Kenya’s tourism sector.

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