Get KWS authority to run a wildlife farming or utilisation enterprise
Kenya Wildlife Service · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Apply on the KWS eCitizen portal (kws.ecitizen.go.ke) and pick the form for your enterprise: plants and other animals, small birds, aloe propagation, or keeping African grey parrots. You need KWS authority before you start.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Online on the KWS eCitizen portal
What you need
- An eCitizen account
Steps
- Sign in to your eCitizen account and open the Kenya Wildlife Service portal (kws.ecitizen.go.ke).
- For plants (other than aloe), butterflies, reptiles and other animals, choose "Authority to Operate a Wildlife Utilization Enterprise (Plants (other than aloe) and Other Animals)". For small birds, choose the Small Birds form.
- For aloe, choose "Application for Registration of Operations for Artificial for Propagation of Aloe Species".
- For African grey parrots, choose "Application for Authority to keep African Grey Parrot".
- After you apply, print the document the portal gives you and keep it.
Watch out
- Get the KWS authority first. Every wildlife utilisation activity in Kenya needs prior authorisation from KWS.
- Aloe has its own registration form. The general plants form excludes aloe.
- Selling abroad needs a separate CITES export permit from KWS.
Who can apply
- Businesses and community groups farming, breeding, ranching, harvesting or trading live plants, animals or small birds.
- Farmers growing aloe species by artificial propagation.
- Anyone who keeps or breeds African grey parrots.
Official sources (2)
- Wildlife Economy kws.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Kenya Wildlife Service - eCitizen kws.ecitizen.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026