By Benard Sanga
Mombasa: The cost of transport in Mombasa is expected to rise from tomorrow following the county government’s move to increase parking fees for public service vehicles by more than 100 per cent.
Mombasa County Government has directed PSV operators to pay the new parking fees starting tomorrow.
The county has increased the parking fee for tuk tuks from Sh600 to Sh1,500 per month and for matatus from Sh1,700 to Sh2,000 per month.
Yesterday, two associations representing the tuk tuk operators opposed the move, warning that the increase would lead to a rise in the cost of transport.
Mombasa County Transport Executive Mohamed Abbas, however, said yesterday it was too late to deliberate on the matter since the county Finance Bill has been passed and gazetted by the county government.
According to Kenya Three Wheeler Association official Anwar Said, members would defy the directive and called for a meeting with county authorities to discuss the issue.
“We were not consulted as major stakeholders. Our members went to pay the parking fees of Sh600 only to be shocked that it had been increased to Sh1,500 overnight. There was no notice and we were ambushed,” said Mr Said.
Mombasa Tuk tuk Association (MTA) chairman Crispin Odhiambo said the issue had affected their operations negatively.
“But we are following the issue carefully and we urge our members to remain calm. We are optimistic we shall reach an amicable agreement with the county government,” he said.
MTA Secretary General Mohamed Musa said last year, the county government had proposed to raise the levies from Sh600 to Sh800.
“They consulted us and we held very fruitful discussions where the rates were retained at Sh600. We are wondering this time round why they did not inform us and instead raised it to Sh1,500 without our knowledge,” he said.
