Motorists to pay more for parking

Motorists will pay Sh300 as parking fees from November 1, 2010 after the Nairobi City Council announced new rates on October 26, 2010. FILE

The Nairobi City Council has announced new parking fees for vehicles in the Central Business District and its environs.

From Monday, Kenyans will pay Sh300 from the previous Sh140 per day for saloon cars parked in streets within the CBD.

Motorists parking their vehicles in non automated areas in the CBD will pay Sh400 per day from the previous Sh200 while those in automated parking will pay an entry fee of Sh50 then for every additional 30 minutes, they will be charged Sh15.

The three to seven tonne lorries will be charged Sh1,000 from the previous Sh800.

However, parking fees for motor bikes will remain at Sh50.

In a statement, Council spokesman Wilfred Marube said: “Motorists parking their vehicles in Buru Buru Shopping centre, Highridge area, Upper Hill, Yaya centre, Milimani, Kilimani, Hurlingham, Pangani, Muthaiga, Eastleigh, Community, Ngong Road, Kombo Munyiri, New Pumwani Road, Langata Road, Lavington Shopping Centre, Karen Shopping Centre, Kariokor and Ziwani Shopping will pay a parking fee of Sh200 from the previous Sh140 for saloon cars and Sh500 and Sh2,000 for lorries and trailers respectively."

Seasonal parking for motor bikes has been increased to Sh1,000, Tuk Tuks Sh2,000,  private cars Sh3,000 from the previous Sh2,000, Taxis Sh3,500 from the previous Sh2,000, 13 seater matatus from Sh2,200 to Sh4,000 and 43 seater buses from Sh4,000 to Sh8,000.

The parking fees were last increased in November, 2008 from Sh 70 to Sh 140 per day.

At the same time, the rent for one-bedroomed council houses in the estates has been increased by between Sh500 to Sh2,000. In Joseph Kangethe, it will rise from Sh7,500 to Sh8,500; in Buru Buru the rent will increase from Sh3,500 to Sh4,000; Old Ngara from Sh5,000 to Sh7,000 and New Ngara from Sh5,000 to Sh6,000 while shop and stall will increase by between Sh500 to sh3,000.

Mr Marube said the increase in parking fees and rents is expected to net the council an extra Sh3 billion during this financial year.

“The increase in fees had been factored in the council’s budget, which stood at Sh9 billion in the 2009/2010 but increased to Sh12 billion during the current financial year,” the spokesman said.

“The new rates are expected to cushion the Council’s new wage Bill of Sh530 million per month following the implementation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

“The employees are expected to start receiving their new salaries at the end of this month."