Queries as pilot e-parking system starts in Nairobi
Nairobi City County Town Clerk Roba Duba (centre) gets a briefing on the e-parking payment system from yu’s head of mobile payments, Mr Jeremiah Siage (right), as city treasurer Jimmy Kiamba looks on. This was during a pilot phase of the new platform on Nairobi’s Koinange Street on August 29, 2014. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |
What you need to know:
- County to conduct publicity campaign through newspapers, television and radio
- Piloting of the e-payment system started on August 25 on Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi. On Monday, an estimated 13,000 motorists in the county are expected to use the system.
- Mr Johson Mukami, a motorist in Nairobi, said many people were in the dark on use of the system, and wondered how county agents would ascertain that one had paid for parking if receipts were not issued in hard copy.
Nairobi County parking goes cashless on Monday — but questions persist on the practicality of the system as the majority of users don’t know how to use it.
Also, will the system be strong enough to withstand heavy data traffic without outages?
Piloting of the e-payment system started on August 25 on Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi. On Monday, an estimated 13,000 motorists in the county are expected to use the system.
The system is expected to cut revenue losses by 30 per cent, with the county projecting a net earning of Sh5 billion from parking fees this year.
Deputy governor Jonathan Mueke said the system was launched following complaints by motorists that their vehicles were being clamped despite prompt payment of packing.
The system is being conducted under the Nairobi County ICT Transformation Programme.
Mr Johson Mukami, a motorist in Nairobi, said many people were in the dark on use of the system, and wondered how county agents would ascertain that one had paid for parking if receipts were not issued in hard copy.
ELECTRONIC ALERT
“Agents demand a receipt confirming payment; this new system however sends an electronic alert, which is unprintable,” Mr Mukami said.
Ms Winnie Wanjiru concurred, adding that motorists may be forced to pay an extra Sh30 daily for transactions done via M-Pesa, Airtel, Orange Money and yuCash.
“The system is tedious. What if we pay for parking space that is not available?” she asked.
Most motorists interviewed in Nairobi said the county should invest more in the e-payment system to address concerns raised instead of hurrying to roll it out.
Mr Shaban Asman, the deputy chief revenue officer at Nairobi County, (currently in charge of parking) said a publicity programme is under way through newspapers, television and radio stations.
“Pilot sessions have ascertained that e-payment will run smoothly without inconveniences,” he said.
He added that as the county embraces the system, those who have registered will pay electronically, while the unregistered will pay manually. Their fees will then be recorded electronically on e-payment systems by agents.
“So far, we do not have a database of all motorists because more and more people keep buying cars. Some pay monthly tickets, while others pay per day,” Mr Asman said.
He said the county is already receiving payment electronically from about 130 people every day. Motorists who pay monthly are automatically enrolled into the system. Their remittance amounts to an estimated Sh40 million, he said.
