Diaspora Families Are Not Tourists!!

To: The Government of Kenya, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kenya Wildlife Service


TL;DR:
We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Kenya to end the unfair practice of charging diaspora families “tourist” or “non-resident” rates at Kenya’s national heritage and conservation sites (including national parks, reserves, and museums).

At present, a Kenyan citizen may pay as little as Ksh 300 to enter a national park, while their spouse or child without a Kenyan ID is forced to pay $52/$26.

This creates unnecessary barriers for families and sends a painful message: that diaspora families are treated as foreigners in their own homeland.

Our Rationale
Diaspora Kenyans are among the country’s greatest economic and cultural contributors. Each year, we send billions of Kshs in remittances, buy land and property, start businesses, support extended families, and promote Kenya abroad. Yet when we return home, our loved ones, our spouses, children, parents, and grandchildren, are penalised as outsiders.

Diaspora families are not tourists! We return regularly, sustain family ties, and invest deeply in Kenya. Charging our families inflated rates is unfair, unwelcoming, and short-sighted.

We urge the Government of Kenya to stop punishing diaspora families with tourist rates, and to create a fair sliding scale discount that reflects the value we bring to our homeland.

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Our Petition
We respectfully urge the Government of Kenya to:

1. Acknowledge diaspora families as part of Kenya’s extended family.

2. Remove non-resident/tourist rates for direct family members of Kenyans abroad (spouse, partner, children, parents, grandchildren).

3. Introduce a fair sliding scale discount system:

*Where non-resident fees are modest, apply at least a 50% discount for diaspora family members.

*Where non-resident fees are very high, apply up to a 70% discount (capped).

This ensures fairness without undermining the financial sustainability of Kenya’s heritage and conservation sites.

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Why This Matters

Economic impact: Diaspora remittances are Kenya’s leading source of foreign exchange. Supporting diaspora families strengthens their commitment to invest and contribute even more.

Social cohesion: Diaspora families enrich Kenyan society with global skills, networks, and perspectives.

National pride: Welcoming our families affirms Kenya as a home for all its people, wherever they live, and those they love.

This policy change is simple, fair, and long overdue. It recognises that the diaspora is not just an economic pillar but an essential part of Kenya’s identity and future.

We urge the Government of Kenya to stop punishing diaspora families with tourist rates, and to create a fair sliding scale discount that reflects the value we bring to our homeland.