County seeks share of Lake Nakuru National Park tourism revenue

By Suleiman Mbatiah

The County Government of Nakuru has initiated discussions with the National Government to establish a revenue-sharing framework for tourism and related activities at Lake Nakuru National Park.

Currently, Nakuru County receives nothing from the revenue generated from the park or other tourism sites within its jurisdiction, despite their significant contributions to both local and national tourism sectors.

The County has decried that the situation contrasts with models like the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where Narok County directly benefits from park earnings, and Amboseli National Park, which generates substantial revenue for Kajiado County.

At the Maa Cultural Festival in Narok County in August 2023, President William Ruto announced the transfer of Amboseli National Park’s management from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to the County Government of Kajiado. He instructed the Ministry of Tourism, led by the then Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza, to fast-track the process, citing Kajiado’s proven capacity to manage the park effectively.

Similarly, the Maasai Mara National Reserve was transferred to the Narok County Council in 1961, initially as a wildlife sanctuary before becoming a game reserve. This shift enabled the County Government of Narok to oversee conservation and tourism, significantly boosting local revenue through park entry fees, tourism activities, and partnerships with private lodges.

Nakuru County’s Minister for Tourism, Mr. Kuria Muiruri, confirmed that negotiations with the National Government are ongoing to define the roles of each government level and establish a fair revenue-sharing mechanism. These talks aim to ensure Nakuru County benefits from the economic potential of Lake Nakuru National Park, aligning with successful models in Narok and Kajiado counties.

Revenue for local development

Mr. Kuria emphasized that the revenue generated from tourism activities, currently managed by the KWS, would be allocated to support a wide range of community development initiatives such as promoting and marketing tourism destinations to attract more visitors, improving critical infrastructure such as roads and facilities, and enhancing educational opportunities through the construction of schools and provision of scholarships.

“The management of the tourism destinations would continue to be under the KWS, as they are very good at that, and it has been proven that, for example, with the Maasai Mara National Reserve, if the destinations are managed at a very local level, they have a lot of interferences,” stated Mr. Kuria, with a commitment to prudent management and utilization of the revenue.

Mr. Kuria was speaking when he officiated the official activation of Lake Nakuru National Park as a premium tourism destination under the “Visit Nakuru” digital marketing campaign that brought together journalists, influencers, government officials, and stakeholders in the tourism sector.

Tourists at Lake Nakuru National Park. Photo/Suleiman Mbaatiah

KWS Senior Assistant Director for the Central Rift Conservation Area, Mr. Gideon Kebati, acknowledged the impact of the said negative publicity, which has led to a decline in the number of visitors to the park and, consequently, a drop in revenue compared to previous years.

He noted that after the Coast tourism circuit, Nakuru County has remained a preferred tourism destination. He emphasized the need to further market the county while also exploring and improving other potential tourist attractions and markets.

“When I look at the data on visitations and the finances that we have realized, I have seen we are not doing so well. Last year, in January alone, we realized about KShs 72 million below what was realized in the previous year. That’s a wake-up call for us all in the industry,” he noted, calling for an aggressive marketing strategy.

He highlighted the KWS 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, which aims to protect wildlife through a science-led, data-driven approach while boosting jobs, foreign exchange, and community benefits, and reducing biodiversity loss.

Nakuru Tourism Association chairman, Mr. David Mwangi, highlighted that Lake Nakuru National Park has faced a downturn in tourism in the recent past due to negative publicity stemming from severe flooding and the disappearance of Brian Odhiambo, a local fisherman.

He encouraged the local community to see themselves as an integral part of the park and the broader tourism ecosystem, emphasizing that the KWS is only tasked with managing the resource. He added that the community’s involvement and support would play a key role in shaping future decisions, including the possibility of Nakuru County taking over the management of the park.

“Lake Nakuru National Park’s ecosystem benefits far more than just the five hotels within its boundaries. It supports a thriving network of businesses and communities outside the park. Nakuru County receives 400,000 visitors each month. The five hotels within the park cannot sustain that huge number alone,” Mwangi added, describing how the park helps drive economic growth across the region.