Details have emerged of a powerful cartel that operates within the Nairobi Central Business District.
Members of the cartel who are drawn from Nairobi County Government employees deny the county government billions of shillings through their illegal activities.
One of their investment is an illegal parking racket with a gang of street boys deployed to ensure smooth operations and mint millions.
The street boys collect parking fees from unsuspecting motorists and even issue county government receipts for the same.
The millions minted every day are shared with their employers – the cartels even as the county governments faces shortage of funds to operate.
Depending on the time of the day and the desperation of the motorists, the cartels through the street boys charge anything between Sh20 and Sh200.
This is significantly lower compared to the Sh300 charged by county government employees.
To ensure efficiency and 'quality services', the cartels have zoned out the city with different gangs managing different zones to avoid conflicts.
The gang of street boys invades the city centre early before county government employees arrive and operate till late in the evening when county government employees have left.
Those who refuse to use their services end up with their cars vandalised or tyres deflated.
One of the street boys operating in the racket revealed to a local newspaper that they provide alternative services that the government has failed to offer.
Previous attempts by the county government to seal loopholes through which it loses revenue have produced little results.
