Editor's Review

Motorists in Nairobi have been handed a sigh of relief after the court suspended an order by City Hall seeking to increase parking fees in the county. This is pending the determination of two petitions filed against the increment.


Nairobi resident will continue to pay Ksh200 as parking fees after the High Court stopped Nairobi City County from increasing the charges pending the determination of a case against the raise.

The County had sought to increase parking fees for private cars and matatus.

High Court Judge Justice Anthony Mrima upheld an order dated December 30, 2019 suspending the increment of parking fees for private cars from Ksh200 to Ksh400. He extended the suspension until April 21, 2021.

File image of cars parked along Moi Avenue, Nairobi City CBD. |Photo| Courtesy|

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Justice Mrima also suspended the increment of seasonal parking charges for matatus. The county had sought to raise the fees for 14 seater matatus from Ksh3,650 to Ksh5,000.

The devolved unit had also intended to increase charges for 32-seater vehicles from Ksh5,250 to Ksh8,000 and for 51-seater vehicles from Ksh7,500 to Ksh10,000.

Justice Mrima directed that the suspension be effective until April 21 pending the determination of two petitions lodged by the Matatu Owners Association (MOA) and the Customer Federation of Kenya.

The two lobby groups filed the petition after a notice of increment was issued by City Hall on December 2, 2019.

Their lawyer, Henry Karauka told the court that the decision by City Hall was unreasonable, exorbitant, unfair and lacked public participation thus subverting article 10 of the Kenyan Constitution.

 Karauka argued that implementation of the changes would gravely violate the rights of consumers in the county.

The lawyer petitioned that the notice requiring Public Service Vehicles (PSV) to pay more as to access the Central Business District (CBD) would result in fare hikes which would in turn hurt commuters.

"The Kenyan economy has shrunk compelling the Central Bank of Kenya to cut its projected growth rate for this year. The timing of increasing parking fees is wrong and hurriedly implemented without proper and adequate notice to the public," the petition read in part.

Karauka stated that consumers could not afford the new parking fees due to the tough economic times.

File image of cars parked along a Nairobi City street. |Photo| Courtesy|