Taxi association to sue Nairobi County government over ban on City parking slots
What you need to know:
- On Thursday last week, county enforcement officers clamped a number of taxis parked in the city centre and towed some away over non-payment of parking fees.
- Mr Nzioka said that the directive that taxis move around picking and dropping passengers in the CBD was impossible to implement as it would contribute to traffic jams.
- He said that City Hall had failed to bring sanity in the transport sector as matatus do not use the designated terminuses and are instead allowed into the CBD.
- On the new Nairobi City County Taxi Cabs Bill, 2015, he said they had only seen it in the media and were not involved in its drafting.
The Kenya Taxi Cab Association (KTCA) has said it will take the Nairobi County government to court for banning taxi operators from occupying parking slots in the city centre.
KTCA treasurer Job Nzioka said that City by-laws allow taxis to be allocated parking slots in the city where they are designated.
Mr Nzioka said that the by-laws are clear that taxis should have ranks adding that City Hall should not be allowed to change the law unprocedurally.
On Thursday last week, county enforcement officers clamped a number of taxis parked in the city centre and towed some away over non-payment of parking fees.
County Chief Administrator John Ntoiti said taxis had been occupying most of the parking spaces in the city centre and contributed to congestion.
Mr Nzioka said that the directive that taxis move around picking and dropping passengers in the CBD was impossible to implement as it would contribute to traffic jams.
“This is the most ridiculous directive I have ever heard. Move round where? Nairobi where all the roads have been occupied by matatus and boda boda? It is impossible,” said Mr Nzioka.
CORRUPTION AT CITY HALL
He said that City Hall had failed to bring sanity in the transport sector as matatus do not use the designated terminuses and are instead allowed into the CBD.
He blamed corruption in City Hall as the major challenge in dealing with increased traffic snarl up in the city.
He, however, warned those not paying for parking and paying attendants Sh100 a day that they should face the consequences without involving the association.
“The association only deals with administrative issues. All levies are supposed to be paid by the individual (taxi) owners,” said Nzioka.
He added that they will not be forced to pay for seasonal parking fee of Sh6,000 as the fee was fixed regardless of whether one is in the CBD or not.
On the new Nairobi City County Taxi Cabs Bill, 2015, he said they had only seen it in the media and were not involved in its drafting.
The Bill, which if passed will replace the City Council of Nairobi (Taxi-Cab) by-laws of 1967, makes multiple changes to the taxi business, including the introduction of uniforms and limitation of the number of taxis in the city.
