
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Monday promised to lower the parking fees for motorists in the Capital.
Speaking during the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference held at KICC, Sonko indicated that his government will lower the parking fees from the current Kshs 300 to Kshs 200.
Following the directive, the new fees are expected to take effect as from December 2018 as planned by the county's treasury.
"After consultations with various stakeholders, including ward representatives, we have agreed to slash the parking fees in order not to overburden motorists," Sonko stated.
However, Sonko noted that the changes will only be effected after the county government sorts the congestion menace in the CBD.
"I know that this will increase congestion in the city centre but again, we cannot punish Nairobi residents because projects like BRT and construction of bus termini outside the CBD are still ongoing," he added.
Under former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero's regime, the parking fee was increased from Kshs 140 in 2013 to the current Kshs 300 per day.
Earlier media reports alleged that under the 2018 Finance Bill, City Hall had proposed a hike in the parking fees to Kshs 400.
During the conference, Sonko equally lobbied stakeholders to consider making Nairobi the headquarters of the Blue Economy Initiative.
"Nairobi is strategically placed and has as such played key roles in the maintenance of regional peace and the infrastructure exists for Nairobi to offer a global partnership that transcends geographical and political boundaries," Sonko argued.