Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has finally reduced the long-awaited parking fees.
In a statement to newsrooms, Sonko revealed that the reduction from Kshs 300 to Kshs 200 would take effect beginning Monday.
This comes months after city hall proposed for its increase to Kshs 400 but after consultations with industry players, they resorted to reducing it by a third.
Sonko had previously remarked that the move to reduce the parking fees was aimed at attracting motorists who had been avoiding public parking, as well as, increasing revenue collection for the County Government.
According to reports, the Governor had delayed the rollout in fear of an increase in congestion but stated that the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system would help rectify the situation.
However, the BRT system’s rollout date hangs in the balance since Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia disclosed that the project, valued at Kshs7 billion, will not be launched soon.
In 2014, former Governor Evans Kidero increased parking fees from Ksh140 to Ksh300, much to the dismay of drivers.
City Hall had also intended to increase the number of parking slots from 12,000 to 20,000. It aims to collect at least Ksh3 Billion annually.
In December 2018, Sonko reclaimed 200 parking slots that had allegedly been in the hands of land grabbers aiming to acquire more.
“We have no room for land grabbers in Nairobi and my administration will not relent on it’s quest to reclaim grabbed public land in Nairobi as promised during my pre-election campaigns,” stated Sonko.
