Nairobi County has announced a significant increase in parking fees for motorists in certain areas of the city, effective September 22, 2023. The decision comes on the heels of the recent gazettement of the Nairobi City County Finance Bill, 2023.
In what might be a cause for concern for many drivers, saloon car owners parking in Zone One area of the city centre will now have to pay Sh300, up from the previous fee of Sh200. This adjustment, as outlined in the Finance Bill, aims to address revenue collection and traffic management in the bustling capital.
Zone One areas encompass various key city zones, including the Central Business District (CBD), Westlands, Upperhill, Community, Ngara, Highridge, Industrial area, Gigiri, Kilimani, Yaya Centre, Milimani, Hurlingham, Lavington, Karen, Eastleigh, Muthaiga, Gikomba, and Nairobi West.
Vans and pickups parked in zone one will also experience a substantial fee hike, with parking now costing Sh500, compared to the previous Sh200 charge. For lorries weighing five tonnes and above, the parking fee will skyrocket to Sh3000, up from Sh1000.
Meanwhile, Zone Two areas will see a decrease in parking prices. Zone Two encompasses on-street parking at commercial centres, county market parking facilities that are not automated, and other locations outside Zone One.
In zone two, owners of saloon vehicles will only be charged Sh100, a reduction from the earlier Sh200 fee. Vans and pickup drivers will also enjoy lower rates, with parking fees set at Sh150, down from Sh200. Additionally, drivers of lorries or minibusses weighing up to five tons will see their parking charges drop to Sh500, down from the previous Sh1000.
The county is introducing an automated parking system as part of the parking fee adjustments. Under this new scheme, city motorists will pay Sh100 for the first hour of parking and Sh50 for every subsequent hour.
The decision to revise parking fees in Nairobi aims to strike a balance between revenue generation and ensuring smooth traffic flow within the city and address evolving needs in a rapidly growing urban environment.