Nairobi Metropolitan Services has responded to concerns from motorists in Nairobi who complained about being forced to pay parking fees to two different entities.
Some motorists complained that they were forced to pay the Ksh 200 daily parking fee to Nairobi county askaris and also to the NMS enforcement officers or risk having their vehicles clamped for non-payment.
In a statement sent to Kenyans.co.ke, NMS communication department instructed that drivers who were being harassed by county askaris should report through official communication and social media platforms because only NMS was authorized to collect revenue under the transferred functions.
“A digital request and feedback platform is near completion. Meanwhile, we encourage feedback via our social platforms and offices.
“Consequently, the collection of parking fees is a transferred function that is coordinated by KRA in conjunction with NMS. The county government, having transferred this function (therefore) cannot purport to perform it in any manner including the collection of revenue,” the statement from NMS read.
The confusion arose from two revenue collection platforms; *235# which is run by Governor Mike Sonko's administration and the *647#, operated by the NMS and KRA.
The agency clarified that the correct USSD is 647 and not 235. However since not all functions were transferred, the county government was at Liberty to use 235 for collection of any revenue falling under the functions that were not transferred.
Motorists who used the 235 instead of the 647 SMS shortcode risk their vehicles being clamped by NMS.
However, Sonko’s team maintained that the county government was still in charge of the collection of parking fees.
Meanwhile, motorists in Nairobi are set to pay more for parking if the Nairobi County Assembly passes a proposed county bill.
To park within Zone One, which includes Kijabe Street and the CBD, motorists will have to part with Ksh 400 daily from the current Ksh 200.
Parking within Zone Two (Westlands, Yaya Centre, Upper Hill, Community, Ngara, Highridge, Industrial Area, Gigiri, Kilimani, Milimani, Hurlingham, Lavington, Karen and Eastleigh) will attract a fee of Ksh 300.
Motorists parking in Zone Three which are areas outside of Zone One and Two will pay Ksh 200.
Other areas bordering neighbouring counties in Zone Four will attract Ksh 100.
Taxi drivers who work with various hailing apps will pay their parking fees through the firms.
Private motorists who wish to pay seasonal tickets will be charged Ksh 7,000 per month, Ksh 18,000 for 3 months, Ksh 32,000 for 6 months and Ksh 55,000 for a year.
Buses (non-matatu) and lorries (3-10 tons) will be charged Ksh 1,000 per day while trailers will attract a fee of Ksh 3,000 daily in the CBD.
