• Conserve and manage national parks, wildlife conservation areas, and sanctuaries under its jurisdiction;
• Provide security for wildlife and visitors in national parks, wildlife conservation areas and sanctuaries;
• Set up a county wildlife conservation committee in respect of each county;
• Promote or undertake commercial and other activities for the purpose of achieving sustainable wildlife conservation;
• Collect revenue and charges due to the national government from wildlife and, as appropriate, develop mechanisms for benefit sharing with communities living in wildlife areas;
• Develop mechanisms for benefit sharing with communities living in wildlife areas;
• Advise the cabinet department on matters pertaining to wildlife policy, strategy and legislation.
• Coordinate the preparation and implementation of ecosystem plans;
• Prepare and implement national park management plans;
• Assist and advise in the preparation of management plans for community and private wildlife conservancies and sanctuaries;
• Undertake and conduct enforcement activities such as anti- poaching operations, wildlife protection,  intelligence  gathering, investigations and other enforcement activities for the effective carrying out of the provisions of this act;
• Conduct and co-ordinate, all research activities in the field of wildlife conservation and management and ensure application of research findings in conservation planning, implementation and decision making;
• Advise the national land commission, the cabinet secretary and the council on the establishment of national parks, wildlife conservancies and sanctuaries;
• Promote and undertake extension service programmes intended to enhance wildlife conservation, education and training;
• Identify user rights and advise the cabinet secretary thereon;
• Grant permits;
• Establish forensic laboratories.

KWS manages about 8 per cent of the total landmass of the country. This land contains 23 National Parks, 28 National Reserves and 4 National Sanctuaries.  Also under KWS management are 4 Marine National Parks and 6 Marine National Reserves at the Coast. In addition, KWS manages 125 field stations outside protected areas.   

Beyond wildlife habitats, the parks and stations feature office and residential blocks, training institutes, workshop areas, research centres, bandas, hotels, shops and restaurants, boreholes, road networks, airstrips and related plants and equipment.

Tourism is the second largest sector of Kenya’s economy. Wildlife managed by KWS forms the backbone of Kenya’s tourism industry, since most visitors come above all to view wildlife. 

The tourism industry accounts for 21 per cent of total foreign exchange earnings and 12 per cent of GDP.  KWS accounts for 90 per cent of safari tourism and about 75 per cent of total tourist earnings. 

Vision 2030:  KWS is a key enabler and one of the key implementing agencies for Vision 2030 flagship projects. 

Tourism Marketing and recovery strategy: Premier Parks Initiative which involve branding of the most popular parks with the aim of offering high quality experience at premium rates;

Under-utilized parks initiative: KWS continues to expand and rehabilitate facilities and infrastructure in its parks including bed capacity through investments into less frequented parks.

Transport Infrastructure:  As an agency of the Kenya Roads Board, KWS is charged with the task of developing and maintaining roads within the National Parks and Reserves. 

Development of niche products: Eco tourism, Cultural tourism, bird tourism etc. 

Other tourism development strategies include: Domestic tourism promotion, improved customer services, roads infrastructure development. 

Economic development and multiplier effects in other industries: Tourism provides multiplier effects in agriculture, horticulture, transport and communications.

KWS also helps communities outside protected areas develop tourism and other ventures, bringing critically needed jobs and income to rural areas.

Environmental assessments: to ensure sustainable management of wildlife and their habitats for posterity.

Restoration of ecosystems: forest conservation and water towers conservation. The 10 marine parks and reserves that KWS manages are critical breeding areas for sea life, sustaining the country’s fishing industry

Translocations: Wildlife translocation is used as a tool for to mitigate challenges such as human-wildlife conflict, the management of carrying capacities of particular areas and maximising genetic variety.

Species Conservation: to protect and ensure survival of particular endangered species. 

Bio-prospecting: enhanced efforts on biotechnology include: strategy for conservation and management for aloe species in Kenya as well as the identification, discovery and characterization of useful compounds, DNA extracts, genes and microbes from wildlife.

International Arena: Coordination of biodiversity related multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAS), formation of the African Elephant Coalition and CITES convention.

Water: KWS is responsible for managing and protecting the critical water catchments of Mt Kenya, the Aberdares, Mt. Elgon, Chyulu, and Marsabit. In addition, KWS is involved in efforts to protect and restore the Mau Forest in collaboration with other national agencies.

Energy: KWS safeguards the source of much of our nation’s energy. Some 70 per cent of Kenya’s electricity comes from hydroelectric dams. Most of these are sited on the Tana River, which flows from Mt. Kenya and Aberdare National Parks. The second largest source is the Turkwell Gorge, in Nasolot National Reserve. Geothermal power is generated in Hell’s Gate National Park.

National security:  KWS is a disciplined and uniformed force, supplementing national security. KWS protects wildlife, people, and property.

Review of wildlife-related policy and legislation: With its wealth of experience on the ground, KWS contributes to policy on land, tourism, fisheries, forest conservation, water and environmental management.

International conventions: Kenya is a signatory to a number of environmental conventions and protocols. As the designated national authority on wildlife, KWS is called upon to interpret international conventions, adapt them to local conditions, and implement them in Kenya

Contribution to National Security: KWS is mandated to protect wildlife, people, property and resources of the country. As a disciplined and uniformed service, KWS is supplementing national security.

Combating Wildlife Crime:  We have put in place proactive, preventive and reactive measures to enhance the safety of wildlife. Ground and aerial patrolstargeting poachers and to provide security for wildlife, wildlife habitats and tourists.                      

Specialised units such as the canine unit which has tracker dogs being deployed successfully in active operations to track bandits/poachers and also sniffer dogs at airports and at the port are a powerful disincentive to potential ivory or rhino horn traffickers. SEAL unit in Security Division which is a unit specialised in rapidly responding to emerging security threats to wildlife.

Building synergies with stakeholders to enhance the conservation and protection of our natural resources. These include Kenya Police, Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, the Judiciary, Kenya Forest Service, National Intelligence Service, Criminal Investigation Department, and Lusaka Agreement Taskforce (LATF) among others. 

Cross-border wildlife security collaborative initiatives were pursued with Tanzania and Uganda Wildlife Authorities

Review of wildlife-related policy and legislation: With its wealth of experience on the ground, KWS contributes to policy on land, tourism, fisheries, forest conservation, water and environmental management.

International conventions: Kenya is a signatory to a number of environmental conventions and protocols. As the designated national authority on wildlife, KWS is called upon to interpret international conventions, adapt them to local conditions, and implement them in Kenya. 

Combating Wildlife Crime:  We have put in place proactive, preventive and reactive measures to enhance the safety of wildlife. Ground and aerial patrols targeting poachers and to provide security for wildlife, wildlife habitats and tourists. 

Strategies: Building synergies with stakeholders to enhance the conservation and protection of our natural resources. These include police, customs Kenya Airports Authority, Judiciary, Kenya Forest Service Officers