Here's the easiest way to make money from doing nothing

Nairobi City Council staff collects parking fees along Muindi Mbingu Street in Nairobi. [Beverlyne Musili, Standard]

Nairobi County wants to start collect parking fees from the residential estates. A visit to most towns is punctuated by someone demanding parking fees. Some towns have automated the process. Why is parking fee so attractive?  Why is it one of those most noticeable sources of income for county governments? 

It’s an easy source of revenue, the costs are almost zero. Unlike a hotel where you cook food, in parking you do nothing. You just collect money. We could argue that the emphasis on parking shows a lack of creativity by county governments. Why not attract investors to give you billions in taxes and jobs? Which town has attracted a major factory lately?