New Bill proposes to slash PSV parking fees in Nairobi by half

Public Service Vehicles (PSV) operators operating across the capital, Nairobi, have a reason to smile if proposals to lower seasonal parking fees by half sail through.

The proposals contained in the Nairobi City County Finance Bill seek to have PSVs pay between Ksh1,825 and Ksh3,600 which is half the current charges.

In a move that seeks to woo PSVs, the bill also gives operators the option of paying the fees monthly, after three months, half a year, or annually.

According to the breakdown, PSVs carrying between one passenger to thirteen will have to pay around Ksh1,825 in a month, Ksh5,110 – for three months, Ksh8,760 – for half a year and Ksh18,980 for annual charges.

Currently, City Hall charges Ksh3,650 monthly, Ksh10,220 for three months, Ksh17, 520 — half year, and Ksh37,960 annually.

The charges apply for matatus within the designated picking and dropping zones, and termini within the area bounded as zone one.

For minibuses (14-42 seater), the Johnson Sakaja-led administration will charge Ksh2,625 monthly, Ksh7,260 (three months), Ksh13, 200 (half year) and Ksh23, 760 for yearly charges.

Currently, the minibuses are charged Ksh5,280 monthly, Ksh14, 520 for three months, Ksh26,400 for half year and Ksh47,540 annually.

For 43 seaters and above, charges will be Ksh3,600 monthly, Ksh9,360 for three months, Ksh17, 280 for half a year and Ksh30,960 for yearly charges if the proposed Bill is passed.

Currently, the buses are charged Ksh7,200 monthly, Ksh18, 720 for three months, Ksh34, 560 for half year and Ksh61, 920 for yearly charges.

Other seasonal on-street parking tickets, tuk-tuk drivers will have to pay a monthly charge of Ksh2,000 while motorbikes and scooters outside the central business district will be charged Ksh1,000 for the same period.

Non-PSV buses will be paying Ksh25,000 monthly, Ksh65,000 for three months, Ksh120,000 for half a year and Ksh225,000 for yearly charges.

City Hall will also charge trailers Ksh75,000 monthly, Ksh195,000 for three months, Ksh360,000for half year and Ksh675,000 for yearly charges.

Lorries above five tonnes in Nairobi will part with Ksh25,000 monthly, Ksh65,000 for three months, Ksh120,000 for half a year and Ksh225,000 annually for the seasonal on-street parking tickets.

However, for lorries up to five tonnes (canter) will have to pay Ksh12,500 monthly, Ksh32,500 for three months, Ksh60,000 for half year and and Ksh112,500 yearly.

Revenue from parking fees is divided into four cluster streams.

They are on-street and off-street parking, PSVs seasonal tickets and loading zones for purposes of easy collection of revenue.

On-street parking refers to available parking spaces for vehicles on a street within a designated area.

Parking fee is one of the top own source revenue streams for Nairobi County.

Looking at the third quarter performance for FY 2022-23 from January to March, Ksh619.9 million was collected in parking fees.

To boost the collection, motorists parking in Nairobi for at least an hour will start paying less in the next financial year.

In the Bill, motorists in zone I and II areas will pay Ksh100 for the first hour of parking.

Motorists who intend to stay longer will pay Ksh50 for the subsequent hours they park in zone I and Ksh100 for zone II.

Zone I areas include Kijabe Street, Westlands, Upperhill, Community, Ngara, Highridge, Industrial Area, Gigiri, Kilimani, Yaya Centre, Milimani, Hurligham, Lavington, Karen, Eastleigh, Gikomba and Muthaiga.

Areas considered to be part of Zone II are on-street parking at commercial centres and county market parking that is not automated (not included in Zone 1)