When David Kones, who represented the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) cascaded Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano’s announcement that all protected areas under the KWS will be thrown open to the public free of charge this Saturday to mark World Tourism Day, it sounded like a bold step.

For once, ordinary Kenyans—who often feel locked out of their own heritage by gate fees they cannot afford—will have a chance to walk through the gates of sanctuaries, parks, and reserves without digging deep into their pockets.

“The government of Kenya is offering free entry to Kenyan citizens to visit Kenya Wildlife Service managed national parks, reserves and sanctuaries on Saturday 27th September, 2025,” he said, emphasizing that this opportunity was only reserved to Kenyan citizens.

But one day of free access is not a solution; it is a spectacle. The real question is whether the government is prepared to make tourism inclusive, accessible, and sustainable in the long run. Kenya cannot boast of its “scenic wonders” while treating them as playgrounds reserved for the wealthy, foreign tourists, and a select few.

A meaningful policy shift must ensure locals are not mere bystanders but equal stakeholders in the tourism economy.

Beyond access, there is also the unspoken crisis of security, infrastructure, and environmental degradation. Many parks are underfunded, understaffed, and ill-equipped to handle the surge of visitors expected during such open days.

Without deliberate investment, this grand gesture risks being nothing more than a PR stunt plastered over the cracks of systemic neglect.

David Oloo, a representative from the county commissioner’s office, assured the public of their safety during the tourism week and urged residents to turn up in numbers to enjoy the beautiful sceneries Kisumu County and KWS will be offering.

“Every measure have been put in place to ensure that all citizens visiting each place in Kisumu is safe,” he affirmed.

Farida Salim, the tourism minister at the county, urged all Kisumu residents to take advantage of the national government’s as well as the county’s offer to turn up and enjoy the scenery, sites and not just enjoy but also learn what tourism has to offer.

“I want to take this opportunity to invite everybody within and without Kisumu to come to Kisumu and especially at the Kisumu Museum as we celebrate the tourism week,” she said.