Parking fee exemption ‘for 300 taxis’

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: City Hall says the Friday High Court ruling on parking fees affects only 300 taxis who are registered members of the Kenya Taxi Cab Association.

 Nairobi City County lawyer Ken Ogeto said the ruling made by Justice Isaac Lenaola does not extend to private cars and public service vehicles.

 “This interim exemption applies only to registered members of the petitioner’s society and not all taxi operators within the county,” said Ogeto in his letter to director legal affairs at City Hall.

 He said the county government will from Tuesday be allowed to levy fees only for single business permit in relation to taxi operators who are members of the petitioner’s society and not both single business permit fees and daily car park or seasonal fees.

 “However, those who will not be able to show evidence of payment of single business permit will be liable to payment of the prescribed daily and seasonal fees,” said Ogeto,

The interim order was issued at the High Court Friday after an urgent application filed by the Taxi Cabs Association in which Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko had also been enjoined.

 Justice Isaac Lenaola issued the order pending the hearing and determination of a petition filed against the Nairobi County government on grounds that the new levies were excessive and had been effected without consultation.

 In the suit, Sonko claims that the Senate oversight role was ignored in the legislative process of the County Finance Act 2012 and that the taxicab operators’ constitutional rights were infringed on when the county imposed the exorbitant levies.