Reprieve for motorists in Nairobi as High Court suspends new parking fee

By Monica Muema

The High Court has today morning suspended the implementation of the Sh400 new parking fee by City Hall pending determination of a case that has been filed by Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK).

The High Court in Nairobi Tuesday afternoon certified as urgent the COFEK case against Nairobi City County and ordered the County Government to appear in Court at 9 am today.

The new rates had been expected to come into force on Wednesday morning when Justice James Makau is set to make the decision one way or the other.

In the lawsuit, COFEK filed through Nairobi lawyer Mr Henry Kurauka had sought to stop the County government from doubling their rates which he said did not benefit from a proper public participation process.

“There is no reasonable cause to increase parking fees at a time when most consumers are struggling to provide basic amenities for their families such as food, housing, healthcare, school fees, clothing, fuel, airtime, transport and expenses for other important social activities,” said Karauka.

COFEK also said that the County has never properly accounted for proceeds from parking fees and that as such it was not persuasive.