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Taita Taveta residents want free Tsavo access as Ruto's revenue pledge stalls
Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) Assistant Director, Jillo Arero (centre) addresses journalists in Voi during a public participation forum held on Tuesday.
Residents of Taita Taveta County have renewed their appeal to the national government over the minimal direct benefits they receive from Tsavo National Park, this time demanding free access to the protected area.
The residents and local leaders have, for years, sought a fair share of the revenue and other direct benefits derived by the national government from the park.
Two years ago, President William Ruto promised that Taita Taveta County would receive 50 percent of the revenue collected from Tsavo. However, no progress has been made on the proclamation to date.
On Tuesday, a public participation forum convened by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in Voi, aimed at reviewing park access and conservation-related fees, turned into a platform for raising concerns over longstanding community exclusion from the county’s largest landmass and the minimal benefits derived from the protected area.
The review, being conducted under the draft Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation Fees) Regulations, 2025, seeks to address the rising conservation costs incurred by the government. Locals argued that the park remains largely inaccessible without paid entry, and the restricted access to Tsavo, which covers over 62 percent of the county’s land, has left most residents unable to see wildlife.
A group elephants feeding at Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary within the Tsavo West National Park in Taita Taveta CountyTsavo.
County Executive Committee Member for Trade and Tourism Gertrude Shuwe called for the inclusion of local communities through access waivers for area students, residents, and public servants. Ms Shuwe stated that when communities are actively involved in conservation, they take on the role of wildlife guardians.
"We live beside this park, but we cannot enter freely. If the waiver is granted, then we will feel that this is our resource. I don't mean that should apply to all parks but residents of this county should have free access to Tsavo but they can pay when they visit other parks," she said.
She also urged KWS to prioritise residents most affected by human-wildlife conflict by offering them employment and business opportunities within the parks, such as recruitment as wildlife rangers and scouts, access to supply contracts, CSR initiatives, and scholarship programmes.
Residents argued that the park’s vast land area has historically constrained development, movement, and community land use, while offering little in terms of direct benefit to surrounding locals. Some cited ongoing challenges including human-wildlife conflict, delayed compensation, and limited job opportunities for locals.
Mr Isack Mwangasu, a resident, also called for free entry for locals so they can feel a sense of ownership and pride in the park, which has long been viewed as a distant and exclusive space despite its location within their county. He said that free access would not only foster goodwill but also encourage locals to participate in conservation efforts, as they would see the park as a shared heritage rather than a national government-controlled area.
Mr Mwangasu added that the lack of tangible benefits from Tsavo has bred resentment and apathy among residents, who often bear the brunt of wildlife-related challenges.
"The President must honour his commitment to revenue sharing and the government should implement inclusive policies that recognise the unique relationship between this park and the local communities," he said.
KWS, which manages the park, currently charges Kenyan citizens Sh500 for adult entry, but now seeks to raise the figure to Sh1,000. Foreigners will be charged Sh10,360, up from Sh6,700.
During the forum, KWS representatives noted that the reforms in park fees aim to boost wildlife numbers, upgrade park facilities, promote harmonious human-wildlife coexistence, and strengthen the wildlife-based economy, particularly through job creation and community benefit-sharing.
Several projects
Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) Assistant Director Jillo Arero said the move is the first major review since 2007. He noted that KWS has implemented several projects in the county, including classroom construction, improvement of health facilities, and drilling of community boreholes.
“We have also supported local football teams by donating football kits. We also have many locals who have secured employment in the service. We will continue to do more for the locals," he said.
Residents and tourism stakeholders present at the forum made several proposals, including improving park roads, implementing the 50-50 revenue-sharing formula, ensuring timely compensation for wildlife invasion claims, and supporting community projects.
Tsavo Ecolodge Director, David Gaitho, said the increased tariffs would impact their business, as some charges are set to rise significantly.
"We support the move but the visitors must get value for money. They must have rangers on patrol to guide the visitors. They will also demand to know how the local community will benefit and that will convince them to pay the higher fees. It will be a win-win situation," he said.
The Taita Taveta County Assembly Chairperson for Wildlife and Human Conflict Resolution, Peter Shambi, called for the formulation of an agreement between KWS and the county government to facilitate impactful CSR initiatives for local communities.
He also called for joint marketing and infrastructure investment in community conservancies and cultural sites to attract more visitors. He proposed a partnership with Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions in the county to train local youth as professional tourist guides.
"There is no taxation without services. If they want to increase the fees then the services must be improved. I also recommended the establishment of a cultural center to empower locals to engage in tourism-related business opportunities. The locals must benefit from this increment," he said.
