Uproar as Govt Doubles Transport Registration Fee in Mombasa

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho meeting the Senate Adhoc Committee on Covid-19 on September 2, 2020
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho meeting the Senate Adhoc Committee on Covid-19 on September 2, 2020
File

Tuk tuk operators in Mombasa County are up in arms after the government headed by Hassan Joho abruptly introduced regulation fees.

A report by Daily Nation on Sunday, June 13, indicated that the county government had introduced a regulation fee that would cost the operators an extra Ksh 1,000.

This fee is in addition to the Parking fee of Ksh 1,200 charged on all the operators monthly.

The drivers lamented that the county had made it mandatory for them to settle the regulation fee before they are allowed to pay their monthly parking fees.

Tuk Tuks operating in Mombasa County
Tuk Tuks operating in Mombasa County
File

"We have complaints about how policies are being implemented. Over last week, the county inspectorate and other officials agreed in a meeting to add a Ksh 1,000 regulation fee also known as a security sticker.

"What I do not fathom is why you are needed to have two photos, tuk-tuk logbook, KRA Pin, Identification Number and next of kin?” questioned one user.

The operators were seeking answers on where the fees they remit to the county government always end up, decrying poor infrastructure.

"We need transparency in where the money we are paying will go. We are in a dilemma; how does the county expect us to operate when they keep shifting goalposts.

"Even if it is a policy, we need public participation and need time as stakeholders before the issues are implemented,” lamented Tofa Kahindi according to Nation.

A representative from the county, however, noted that the regulation fee was aimed at reducing crime used by tuk tuks in the area.

He revealed that plans were already underway to register all the county's 20,000 tuk tuks to account for their actions in case of an incident.

“We have embarked on the use of security stickers to curb or reduce incidences of crime associated with the tuk-tuks. We will register all tuk-tuk operators and the owners for easy tracing of the tuk-tuks in case of an incident,” explained Mombasa County operations and enforcement officer at the Inspectorate office Ibrahim Basafar.

Statue showing the County Government of Mombasa signage
Statue showing the County Government of Mombasa signage.
Twitter