Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja has called out the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and the Nairobi County Government (NCG) for charging city dwellers parking fees in estates. 

In a Tuesday, August 31 statement Sakaja issued through his social media page, the senator told the two entities running the city not to overtax Nairobians. 

“Dear NMS and Nairobi County Govt, the people of Nairobi are not cash cows. Do not charge Nairobians parking fees in estates,” Sakaja said. 

The Senator further told NMS and NCG that Parliament had already allocated the two bodies sufficient funds to enable them perform their duties.

“We have given you enough resources to do your work. From Ksh15 billion in 2017. We negotiated it up to Ksh19 billion in the Senate. On top of this, there is what you are collecting.Our people are already hard pressed and over taxed, Wacheni tamaa,” Sakaja said.

Sakaja further stated that he will ensure NMS and NCG are summoned to the Senate to revoke the new move. 

In June, City Hall announced that it will gazette more parking areas in the capital city, putting pressure on motorists.

Nairobi Finance and Economic Planning CEC Allan Igambi said the new development is part of a new revenue-raising measures to ensure City Hall meets its revenue target of Ksh19.8 billion against a budget of Ksh39.63 billion for the year starting July.

The county currently charges a daily parking fee of Ksh200 and collected revenues totaling to Ksh1.5 billion in the financial year that ended in June last year, against a target of Ksh2.8 billion.

The move will see City Hall gazette more parking areas and charges based on location and estates as it plans to collect Ksh3.02 billion in the new financial year that began in July. 

The charging of parking in Nairobi had been demarcated in three zones with each zone parting away with a specified fees. 

Zone 1 is made up of the Central Business District (CBD) and Kijabe Street where motorists are to be charged Ksh400 from Ksh200 daily.

In Zone 2 which consists of Ngara, Highridge, Industrial Area, Gigiri, Kilimani, Yaya Centre, Allsops, Mwiki, Dagoretti, Westlands, Upper Hill, Kawangware, Kangemi, South B and South C, motorists will pay Ksh200 daily while motorists in Zone 1 will pay Ksh100.