Governor Sakaja proposes scrapping weekend parking fees in the city centre

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has proposed the elimination of weekend parking fees in the city to drive business growth in the capital.

During the Finance Bill 2023 presentation on April 27, 2023, the county boss addressed his County Chief Officers and suggested not charging parking fees in Nairobi over the weekend to encourage businesses to open during the weekends, and to provide residents with an opportunity to support local businesses.

The governor said the move would attract more visitors to the city center during weekends.

"When the Finance Bill 2023 is approved by the County Assembly, I propose a waiver of weekend parking fees in Nairobi," said Sakaja. He added: "The initiative aims to encourage businesses to operate on weekends and provide an opportunity for Nairobi residents to support local businesses."

"We recognize the current economic challenges, but we must work towards the growth of our city. As Nairobi residents, we take pride in our city, and this move will attract more visitors to the CBD on weekends, further boosting the economy."

Sakaja implored that Nairobi should adopt the enthusiasm of other leading cities during the weekends to ensure growth in the capital. He pledged to ensure round-the-clock security provision to support the vision.

On March 13, Nairobi City County Chief Officer of Revenue Collection, Wilson Gakuya, launched the Validation of the Finance Bill 2023 alongside other Chief Officers and County staff.

During the launch, Gakuya mentioned that the Finance Bill 2023 would enable Nairobi to raise its own source of revenue to meet expenditures in the county budget.

He explained that the session's basis was to confirm and justify the various proposals for amendments of fees and charges by the various sectors, which would eventually be submitted to the Nairobi County Assembly for approval of the Finance Act.