Nairobi motorists can breathe a sigh of relief after City Hall officials moved to quell fears of an imminent, sharp increase in daily parking fees.

The clarification addresses public anxiety that erupted after a new county policy document revealed it costs approximately KES 520 to provide a single parking bay. This sparked widespread concern that the daily charge would jump from the current KES 300, a figure cited in initial reports, even though many motorists currently pay KES 200.

Nairobi County's Receiver of Revenue, Tiras Njoroge, emphasized that the 2025–2030 Tariff and Pricing Policy is a strategic guide for future fee reviews, not an automatic price adjustment. He stressed that Governor Sakaja Johnson's administration is sensitive to the prevailing tough economic conditions affecting residents.

A Policy, Not a Price Tag

The controversial KES 520 figure is the result of a cost analysis, intended to inform future decisions, Njoroge explained. For any fee to be changed, it must go through a legally mandated process that includes public participation. “For any charge to be changed, it must go through the Finance Act-making process and reflect economic realities as well as public interest,” he stated.

The policy was developed to create a transparent and lawful method for setting charges for all county services, including business permits and market fees, moving away from years of complaints over arbitrary levies. Key points for Nairobians include:

• There is no immediate plan to increase parking fees.
• The KES 520 figure is a cost-of-service calculation, not a new fee.
• Any future fee adjustments must be approved via the annual Finance Act, which involves public consultation.
• The policy aims to standardize how all county service charges are set over the next five years.

A First for Devolution

City Hall noted that Nairobi is the first county since the advent of devolution to develop such a comprehensive pricing framework. This move is part of a broader strategy under Governor Sakaja to streamline revenue collection and enhance transparency, which has seen the county's own-source revenue grow through digitization platforms like Nairobi Pay.

While the immediate threat of a fee hike has been neutralized, the policy lays the groundwork for future reviews. This leaves Nairobians watchful of how the county will balance its need for revenue against the financial pressures faced by its citizens.