Nairobi County has proposed increasing daily parking charges from the current Ksh 300 to Ksh 535 under a new pricing policy that could see motorists pay significantly more to park their vehicles in the city.
The proposal is contained in the Nairobi City County Government Tariffs and Pricing Policy 2025–2030, which outlines the county’s plan to review the cost of services it offers while ensuring they reflect the actual cost of delivery.
If approved, the new daily parking fee will rise by Ksh 235, representing an increase of more than 78 per cent. The move is expected to affect thousands of motorists who drive into the capital every day for work, business and other activities.
According to the policy, the proposed charge is based on the cost of providing parking services in Nairobi over a 10-year recovery period. The county says its assessment found that the actual cost of offering the service stands at Sh535 per parking space.
The policy states that the cost of providing a parking service in Nairobi is Sh535, adding that the proposed fee was calculated using a 10-year cost recovery model.
County officials say the review is aimed at ensuring parking services remain financially sustainable as operational costs continue to rise. Revenue collected from parking supports the maintenance of parking bays, road markings, traffic management, enforcement operations, digital payment systems and other transport-related services across the city.
Alongside the proposed increase, Nairobi County also plans to introduce a zonal parking system that will guide the management of parking across different parts of the city.
Under the proposal, Zone One will include the Central Business District, Westlands, Upper Hill, Community, Hurlingham, Eastleigh, Kijabe Street, Ngara, Highridge, Industrial Area, Gigiri, Kilimani, Yaya Centre, Milimani, Lavington, Karen, Muthaiga, South C, South B, Gikomba, Parklands and Nairobi West.
Areas outside those listed will fall under Zone Two.
Although the policy identifies the two zones, it does not indicate whether each zone will eventually attract different parking rates. Instead, the zoning framework is intended to improve planning, parking allocation and traffic management across Nairobi.
The county is also seeking to establish designated parking spaces for different categories of users, including commercial vehicles and traders.
According to the policy, “The county shall develop a framework to determine designated parking areas in the city, including designated loading and offloading zones, reserved parking, and market areas.”
Officials believe the framework will help organise parking, ease congestion in busy commercial centres and improve the movement of traffic by ensuring vehicles park only in designated spaces.
Parking fees are among Nairobi County’s biggest sources of locally generated revenue, collecting billions of shillings every year. The county has in recent years, strengthened enforcement through cashless payment systems and digital monitoring to improve compliance and reduce revenue leakages.
If the proposal receives the necessary approvals, motorists will have to adjust to higher parking costs at a time when many are already grappling with rising fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs and other transport expenses.
The proposed tariffs will not take effect immediately. They must first undergo public participation and receive approval from the Nairobi County Assembly before they can be implemented.
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