Global interests in both pre and post-colonial periods dominate conservation practices in Africa. The argument that human beings and their activities are the drivers of environmental degradation served as a bedrock for the formation of early-protected areas across the continent. Other stakeholders who do not necessarily bear the costs realize the huge benefits of conservation. Equally important is the fact that, in both the colonized and non-colonized geographies, replication of similar, though not identical conservation policies evolved and dominated the biodiversity conservation patterns and the current scene of policies at least in some East African countries. This paper seeks to analyze the historical incidents that triggered these countries, namely (Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya) to adopt Fortress Conservation approach from the outset and unable to change under growing pressures from local and global stakeholders interested in resource use and conservation alike. To that end, the historical survey of literatures devoted to conservation practices and approaches of these countries, comparative analysis of the actual conservation policies at work, and the different interests mobilized by different actors were identified and systematically analyzed.