Narok County’s ability to oversee one of its largest revenue sources—the Maasai Mara entry fees—has come under intense scrutiny after revelations that the county lacks full control over the private system managing the funds.
During a Senate County Public Accounts Committee session on Tuesday, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, it emerged that the county administration cannot access the back-end of the revenue platform run by Kenya Airports Parking Services (KAPS) Limited.
The firm, which has been contracted since 2014, collects millions of shillings in entry fees for the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a major source of county income.
Governor Patrick Ntutu explained that the contract contains strict clauses, making early termination nearly impossible.
Finance Executive David Muntet clarified the limits of county oversight: “Only some of our staff have visibility of the system, unlike JamboPay, which is managed entirely by our staff.” Unlike JamboPay, the county can only view the revenue collected and not the detailed transaction data.
An Auditor-General report by Nancy Gathungu raised concerns over continued cash transactions despite the automated system, as well as errors in fee collection. Some tourists were misclassified as non-residents even after presenting valid East African IDs at the park gates.
In the 2024/25 financial year, Narok generated Sh5.67 billion in own-source revenue, with 91 percent—Sh5.6 billion—coming from park fees alone.
Senator Kajwang described the lack of access as alarming, saying a forensic audit of KAPS is necessary and calling the current arrangement “skewed.” He questioned the reliability of the reported revenue: “What guarantee do we have that the reported revenue reflects actual collections? Without backend access, you cannot be certain.” Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna added that the county is effectively placing complete trust in the system.
Governor Ntutu defended the administration, noting that county clerks stationed at park entry points record all entries and daily reconciliations are conducted. The KAPS system allows payments via card, mobile money, bank transfer, and cash, enabling flexibility and verifiable real-time records.
The Auditor-General’s findings showed that Sh26 million and USD 608,550 were collected in cash during the review period, a method that increases the risk of theft and complicates audit verification. Senators also questioned declining revenues in other areas, which the county attributed to Trans Mara clashes and flooding.
Sifuna highlighted a drop in levies despite a Sh1.1 billion rise in park fees, challenging the county’s explanations.
Governor Ntutu pointed to the administration’s progress, noting that revenue has grown from Sh1.3 billion when he took office to Sh5.9 billion, with a target of Sh7 billion. “We continue to develop other revenue streams to reduce reliance on park and hospital fees,” he said.
