KWS: 231,000 Kenyans visited national parks during festive season
By Mustafa Juma, January 5, 2026Over 300,000 visitors toured Kenya’s national parks and reserves during the festive season, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has revealed.
While thanking those who turned out in December 2025, KWS, in a statement shared via its official X account on Monday, January 5, 2026, revealed that out of the total number of visitors who toured the parks, 231,000 were Kenyans. 82,500 were foreigners.
“𝐉𝐢𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 – 𝐀 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫! As we close the Jiachilie in Kenya Parks Festive Season, we say asante sana to every visitor who chose Kenya Parks in December 2025. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 experienced our parks and reserves: 231,000 Kenyan citizens and residents, the true cornerstone of Kenya’s tourism, and 82,500 non-residents who joined us from across the world,” KWS stated.
Kenya’s tourism growth
KWS further reiterated its commitment to supporting Kenya’s tourism growth through wildlife, adventure, and sustainable tourism, as it pushes the government’s vision to reach five million visitors by 2028.
“In line with the Government of Kenya and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife’s @Min_TourismKE vision to reach 5 million visitors by 2028, KWS remains committed to supporting Kenya’s tourism growth through wildlife, adventure, and sustainable tourism. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. More experiences, more access, more conservation impact – and more reasons to explore Kenya’s parks. 𝐉𝐢𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐁𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲,” the statement read.
Free park entries
To encourage Kenyans to visit the parks, KWS has been allowing free entry during special occasions.
For instance, Kenyans were allowed free entry to all KWS-managed national parks, reserves, and sanctuaries on Friday, September 27, 2025, in celebration of World Tourism Day 2025.
KWS announced the special arrangement on Thursday, September 24, 2025, as part of the activities lined up for this year’s global tourism week. The agency said the free entry was meant to encourage Kenyans to experience and appreciate the country’s wildlife heritage.
“As we count down to World Tourism Day on 27th September, when Kenyans will enjoy free entry into KWS-managed national parks, reserves, and sanctuaries, we remind all visitors to observe park rules during your visit,” the Service said in a statement.