Sakaja Raises Nairobi Parking Fees, Motorists Unhappy
The new date for the implementation of parking fees in Nairobi was announced by the city’s governor, Johnson Sakaja, prompting motorists to delve deeper into their pockets.
According to a notice published in the Gazette on Friday, September 8, all drivers have fourteen days to adjust to the new fees.
According to the notice, individuals with sedans will pay Ksh300 in on-street parking zones throughout the city, an increase from the previous rate of Ksh200.
Alternatively, parking for vans and pickups will cost Ksh500 per day, up from Ksh200, while parking for vehicles and minibusses over 5 tonnes will cost Ksh1,000 per day.
“This Act may be cited as the Nairobi City County Finance Act, 2023 and shall come into operation 14 days after publication in the Kenya Gazette,” read the notice in part.
The monthly parking fee for trucks weighing over 5 tonnes will increase from Ksh1,000 to Ksh3,000, while non-digital vehicles will be charged Ksh5,000.
Trailers, on the other hand, will be required to pay Ksh500 more than the Ksh3,000 their owners paid for a day’s parking.
ALSO READ: Nairobi to Scrap Weekend Parking Fees
Zone I parking zones, which include the Nairobi Central Business District, Kijabe Street, Westlands, Upper Hill, Community, Ngara, Highridge, Industrial Area, Gigiri, Kilimani, Yaya Center, Milimani, Hurlingham, Lavington, Karen, Eastleigh, Muthaiga, Gikomba, and Nairobi West, will incur all applicable fees.
Two months have passed since motorists protested the increase in parking fee charges, contending that the cost of living was still burdening many Kenyans, some of whom relied on their vehicles for a living.
Peter Murima, chairman of the Kenya Motorists Association (KMA), told PoliticalPulseChat in mid-July that the increased parking fees were unwelcome in light of the recent introduction of new taxes for employed Kenyans by the national government.
“We did not have any public participation before the charges were increased,” Murima complained.
“They have even restricted us from accessing their offices. Our letters are just received and no action is taken.”
Reprieve
Kenyans will receive a reprieve when parking around mosques on Fridays between noon and 2:30 p.m. and around churches on Saturdays at all times.
Sundays and national holidays will also be free parking days. Initially, drivers were required to pay Ksh200 for Zone 1 and Ksh100 for Zone 2.
Sakaja Raises Nairobi Parking Fees, Motorists Unhappy
