The Nairobi City County government is considering a bold new policy to charge motorists hourly parking fees in the bustling city center. If approved, this initiative aims to ease congestion, streamline parking services, and boost revenue for the county.
Motorists may soon find themselves paying 100 shillings for the first hour and 50 shillings for each subsequent hour parked in the city’s central business district (CBD). According to Boniface Nyamu, Nairobi County Chief Officer of Mobility, this proposal is designed to address the imbalance between the high demand for parking and the limited supply, while simultaneously increasing revenue for the 2023/2024 financial year.
Nyamu presented the plan to the Transport and Public Works committee at City Hall, emphasizing the benefits of hourly billing. He argued that, “the more you stay in CBD, the more you pay,” which will lead to higher parking revenue and discourage congestion.
However, some officials have raised concerns about the potential impact on city residents who commute to work by car. Transport and Public Works Chairman Mark Ronaldo, who also serves as Umoja 1 MCA, has called for a daily cap of 400 shillings to prevent potential lawsuits over increased parking fees.
In addition to the hourly pricing model, Nairobi County Director of Parking Thomas Karatai announced plans to automate parking services at several high-capacity locations, including Machakos Country Park, City Park, and Sunken car parks. This move, which is expected to commence in the next financial year, will further enhance revenue generation by introducing a time-based system for parking fees.
If the proposed legislation is approved by the county assembly, motorists could face parking costs up to three times higher than current rates, which stand at 200 shillings per day in the city center. Under the new system, a commuter who parks in the CBD from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. could pay between 500 and 600 shillings daily, translating to monthly expenses between 8,000 and 12,000 shillings. It remains unclear whether billing will continue after the current 5 p.m. cut-off time for parking fees.