Kenya Revoke Licenses of Four Rogue Tour Companies

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 7 – The government has revoked the licenses of four tour operators in a sweeping crackdown targeting non-compliant players in Kenya’s multibillion-shilling tourism industry.

The Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) said the enforcement drive, spearheaded by a multi-agency team, began in the Maasai Mara and has since extended to Amboseli, Tsavo, and the Coast.

TRA Director General Norbert Tallam identified the affected firms as Kenmara Tour Operators, Thinkscenes Services Ltd, Twinkle Star Tours and Safaris, and Dosasha Tour and Safaris. He said the companies will remain barred from business until they meet compliance requirements.

“This is a big stride forward. We are here to ensure that Kenya’s tourism sector is properly regulated,” Tallam said during the crackdown in Amboseli National Park. “Rogue operators and unlicensed drivers must come forward and regularize their businesses, or they will not be allowed to operate.”

He urged tourists to book trips only through licensed firms, stressing that the campaign is meant to create a fair, competitive environment while protecting Kenya’s image as a global destination.

TRA Board Chairman Benjamin Washiali warned other operators flouting regulations that the authority would take swift action. “We mean business,” he said. “Tourism is one of Kenya’s top foreign exchange earners, yet for too long it has suffered because of poor regulation. That is why we are leaving our boardrooms and going to the ground to act decisively.”

Washiali noted that several companies targeted during the operation had already complied, calling it proof that the campaign is working.

Tourism employs hundreds of thousands of Kenyans and generates billions annually, but unlicensed operators, poor service standards, and safety concerns have long undermined competitiveness.

Officials said the ongoing crackdown is not meant to stifle businesses but to enforce professionalism, safety, and sustainability. “This is about fairness, compliance and sustainability,” Tallam said.

The operation is expected to intensify in coming weeks as inspectors move into more tourist circuits to weed out rogue operators.