The link between poverty, environment and ecotourism development in areas adjacent to Maasai Mara and Amboseli protected areas, Kenya

•A significant (χ2 = 44.01, df = 1, p < 0.05) majority (67%) of the community were poor.•Ecotourism enterprises had not adequately addressed access to credit, pastures and training on entrepreneurial skills.•Ecotourism had contributed to conservation, education, employment, healthcare, income and small enterprises.•Maasai Mara and Amboseli protected areas were facing threatening challenges of encroachment.

Over the years, Wildlife Protected Areas (WPAs) have been promoted for ecotourism. However, declining agricultural productivity, rising population and a third of Kenya's land surface area being arable; there has been an encroachment on WPAs. This paper assessed the nature and state of the poverty–environment–ecotourism relationship in Maasai Mara and Amboseli protected areas, Kenya. A significant (χ2 = 44.01, df = 1, p < 0.05) majority (67%) of the community were poor; in spite of ecotourism enterprises' continued support for conservation, education, employment and healthcare initiatives. Ecotourism enterprises had not adequately addressed access to credit, grazing pastures and capacity building on entrepreneurial skills. The protected areas were facing the challenge of encroachment exacerbated by rapidly rising human needs for land, food and income. It is recommended that ecotourism practitioners should not only establish micro-credit and entrepreneurial skills training initiatives but also initiate fair and long-lasting economic partnerships with local communities.