Family day out turns sour as Nakuru residents are denied entry to Lake Nakuru National Park

“Leo haturuhusu watu ndani ya park”

This was the message that greeted many of those who arrived at Lake Nakuru National Park earlier today, hoping to gain free entry. As early as 7am, cars were waiting outside the Summit Resort to gain entry.

At the gate, armed rangers were turning all the cars and people away and informing them that free entry to the park had been cancelled.

As it was a Saturday, this would have been the perfect opportunity for families to spend time together. One such person was Ian Maina, who arrived at the park at 7:30am in his Toyota Fielder with his wife and two children in the back seat.

"We bought some snacks and my wife spent yesterday evening cooking food for us to eat throughout the day while we toured the park. I was not aware of the communication from KWS and anyway who sends a communication in the middle of the night on the eve of an event. Si heri wangesema mapema. This is very disappointing,” says Ian.

Just as he was making a U-turn, a Subaru pulled up with loud music blaring, and a 'Subaru boy' with his girlfriend got out.  The concept of no entry did not make much sense to him, so he offered to pay to gain entry.

"Hizi sasa ni gani manze? We woke up early to get here, and now we can't even go in," he said, his frustration clear in his voice.

He parked the vehicle to think about his next steps, and after regrouping for a few minutes, he sped off.
Soon after, a woman and her children arrived. They saw me with a camera and approached me to ask if I could take a photo of them.

Ann Waithaka looked disappointed when I told her that I was a journalist taking photos because people had been denied access to the park.

“I was going to take my children to the park to take advantage of the free entry. The youngest was really looking forward to seeing a lion. Now what will I tell them? We're already here and I have to tell them we're going back home. This makes me look bad,” she lamented.

For most people who went to the park, it was the same story. Words such as disappointment, sadness, anger and disbelief can be used to describe the emotions experienced by those turned away from Lake Nakuru National Park.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) released a press statement announcing that free entry to Lake Nakuru National Park would no longer be permitted.