Ruto Approves Luxury Hotels Inside Tsavo West, Orders Higher Park Fees to Boost Local Revenue

President William Ruto has announced a major shift in the way Kenya manages its national parks, revealing new plans to build high-end hotels inside Tsavo West and introduce higher park charges for visitors. 

The President spoke during the unveiling of the Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary in Ngulia, Taita Taveta County, where he explained why the government is now pushing for premium tourism to increase earnings for both the country and surrounding communities.

Ruto noted that the tourism sector brings huge opportunities for Kenya, but the country has not been earning enough from its protected areas. 

He said the new approach is meant to raise the value of Kenya’s natural resources and attract visitors who are ready to pay top rates for quality experiences. 

According to him, this strategy has already worked well in places like the Maasai Mara, and Tsavo must now match that level.

To support this plan, the President confirmed that five new luxury hotels will be constructed inside Tsavo West National Park. 

These hotels will target high-spending tourists who expect modern accommodation, excellent service and unique wildlife experiences. 

Ruto said that during his briefing with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), it became clear that Tsavo’s tourism potential is far from fully tapped, and improving the accommodation options will help reposition the park as a premium destination.

With the new direction, Ruto also instructed that tourists visiting the park will pay between USD 500 and USD 1,000 per day, depending on the package. 

This translates to roughly Ksh64,000 to Ksh129,000 under current exchange rates. He added that the government would no longer allow hotels within the park to offer accommodation at very low prices such as Ksh2,000 or Ksh3,000, arguing that such rates do not reflect the true value of the park and do little to help nearby communities economically.

According to the President, higher fees will enable the government to raise more money for wildlife protection, community development and improved services. 

He stressed that the new prices are not meant to lock out visitors, but to ensure that Kenya competes fairly in the global tourism market. 

Many world-class parks across Africa already charge similar rates, and Kenya must match or exceed these standards to remain competitive.

In addition to tourism plans, Ruto also directed KWS and the Ministry of Tourism to create a detailed carbon credit strategy covering Tsavo East, Tsavo West and the government-owned Galana Kulalu irrigation scheme. 

The idea is to combine these areas into one carbon trading zone that can generate new income streams. 

The President said this will help Kenya benefit from the growing international demand for carbon credits, which he referred to as “green gold.” 

Under the plan, local communities will be among the main beneficiaries.

Ruto further stated that the government is ready to use money from park fees and carbon trading to improve conservation programs around Tsavo. 

Some of the planned improvements include building wildlife corridors to reduce human-wildlife conflict, constructing more water dams for animals during dry seasons and investing in better infrastructure across the ecosystem.

The President emphasised that although construction will take place inside a protected area, all developments must meet international standards and follow strict environmental guidelines. 

He noted that KWS will supervise the entire process to ensure that wildlife remains protected and that the natural landscape is not destroyed.

The new announcement has sparked conversations across the country, especially among conservation groups who often oppose building inside parks. 

However, Ruto maintains that the initiative will strengthen conservation instead of weakening it because more revenue means better protection, better infrastructure and better benefits for people living near the park.