• This move has not sat right with a section of Kenyans. Why was Lake Nakuru the only national reserve excluded, the only one singled out? Why the silence?

September 27, 2025 is World Tourism Day. And just like in 2024, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife allowed free-entry to National Parks and Reserves across the country, a gesture meant to honour the day and encourage Kenyans to explore their natural heritage.

But on the evening of September 26, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) issued a notice: Lake Nakuru National Park would not be part of the free-entry celebration. No explanation. No justification. Just a line in a statement: “Customers with prepaid eCitizen tickets are advised to access Lake Nakuru National Park through Nderit Gate.”

This move has not sat right with a section of Kenyans. Why was Lake Nakuru the only national reserve excluded, the only one singled out? Why the silence?

It’s not just about access. It’s about trust. During an earlier statement on September 23, KWS had listed Lake Nakuru among the parks eligible for free entry. The reversal came late, abrupt, and unexplained.

Safina' Party Deputy Leader Willis Otieno asked the obvious: “Why the exception?”

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On X, the speculation turned civic, emotional, and sharp:

• @dennischege: “Nakuru has been excluded coz they are afraid of accountability. Brian Odhiambo disappeared mysteriously under the hands of wardens. His crime was fishing at L. Nkr. The people were going to use the opportunity to enter the park and search for his body.”

• @iamdavi3s: “What is happening at Lake Nakuru?”

• @JoeIgambi: “… Tectonic plates in such area might shift downwards senior … with a huge population going there… it’s inevitable… maybe that could be why.”

Whether the reason is environmental, political, or something else entirely, the lack of transparency is glaring.