More counties demand share of park proceeds

The government is facing increasing pressure as more counties demand a portion of the revenue generated from national parks.

This comes just days after the government transferred the management of Amboseli National Park to the Kajiado county government.

The transfer allows Kajiado to oversee tourism and collect revenue from Amboseli, while the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other national agencies maintain oversight roles.

Kajiado now joins neighbouring Narok, which manages the Maasai Mara Game Reserve and collects billions of shillings annually in revenue.

The Nairobi government is the latest to join the list of those requesting a share of the national parks’ revenue.

Governor Johnson Sakaja told the Senate’s Devolution Committee that his administration has been lobbying the national government to share proceeds from the Nairobi National Park.

"We will be making a case in the same way Maasai Mara is managed by Narok county and the same way Amboseli was handed to Kajiado. Nairobi National Park, which encompasses nearly one-eighth of the county, should follow suit," he said.

Sakaja argued that the national government must transfer the revenue collected from the park to the county, pointing out that Nairobi bears the burden of hosting a protected area that restricts development.

The park sits on prime land that the city cannot utilise for housing or infrastructure.

“I saw a big function in Kajiado when they acquired Amboseli. We have written several letters. In fact, the first proposal by the President was a 50-50 revenue-sharing model,” Sakaja said.

He said City Hall is aware of the park's revenue and could straightforwardly bill the government.

“Even if we only charged land rates for that entire piece of land, it would be a significant amount," Sakaja told the committee.

Beyond Nairobi, leaders in Taita Taveta county are advocating for a share of the revenues from the vast Tsavo National Parks.

Governor Andrew Mwadime has mentioned a presidential pledge and the park’s size—covering more than 60 per cent of the county—as reasons for revenue sharing.

In recent discussions, Mwadime has reiterated calls for a 50/50 revenue split, faster compensation for victims of human–wildlife conflict, and partnerships like expanding the Mzima Springs water project.

He has expressed frustration over delays in fulfilling these promises, which he says have heightened political tension in the county.

In 2023, President William Ruto announced that the government would start allocating 50 per cent of revenue from national parks to local communities as part of efforts to improve their livelihoods.

“I have directed that all revenues from our national parks and game reserves should be divided equally between host counties and the national government,” Ruto said at the time.

The President noted that Tsavo East and West—Kenya’s biggest and oldest protected areas—have not provided fair benefits for Taita Taveta, despite generating an estimated Sh60 billion annually.

“I know other counties are getting a share from conservancies, and I agree that this region needs to get its rightful portion,” he said.