SONKONOMICS: Nairobi County Divides And Doubles City Parking Fees

Yesterday, Sonko-led Nairobi County government announced changes in the parking fees. As from tomorrow (Wednesday), motorist will be paying Kshs400 to park in the Nairobi CBD.

According to a notice issued by the county Director of Parking Services Tom Tinega, the new parking fees were as a result of the enhancement into the law of the finance Act of 2019, which introduced new tax measures aimed at maximizing the government revenue

Tinega said that the county has also divided the parking areas into three zones. Zone One includes the City Center and Kijabe which will attract a parking fee of Kshs400 per day.

Zone two which includes Upperhill, Ngara, Highridge, Industrial area, Westlands, Kilimani, Gigiri, Yaya Center, Mwiki, Madaraka, Lang`ata, Allsops, Dagoreti, Community, Kawangware, Makadara, Buru Buru, Umoja, Kayole, Emakassi, Donholm, Muthaiga, Hurlingham, Lavington, Karen, Eastleigh, South B, South C, Kangemi, Milimani, Kangemi, and Nairobi West will be charged Kshs200 per day for parking.

According to the Sonko led administration, motorists will be charged Kshs100 in other commercial centers which are not included in zone 1 or zone 2. On the same note, buses that are not used for public transport will be charged Kshs1000 per day.

“Kindly note that you will be required to top up the parking fee payment if migrating to a zone with a higher charge as will be applicable,” reads the notice.

This has been a norm for Sonko when he has charges or an active case he’s entangled in. The administration hike the parking fees then the ‘mtetezi’ governor comes and orders for immediate changes. Sonko should be making the City simple to use, clean, and easy to access not creating colonial-like zones on how to tax city dwellers and hustlers.