NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has dismissed claims that the county has raised parking charges, saying motorists should disregard misleading reports circulating on social media.
In a statement issued on Monday, Sakaja clarified that there has been no adjustment to the existing parking fees.
“Usiskize story za jaba! Parking fee haijaongezwa. The parking charges remain the same as always. No change. No confusion,” the statement read.
The Nairobi City County Government confirmed that the current parking rates remain in force. Drivers of saloon cars will continue paying Sh300 per day or Sh5,000 for a monthly seasonal parking ticket.
Owners of vans and pick-ups will still pay Sh500 daily, while lorries, canters and minibuses weighing up to five tonnes will continue paying Sh1,000 per day or Sh12,500 for a monthly seasonal permit.
The county also reminded motorists to use the Nairobi Pay platform to settle parking fees by dialling *647# or through the county’s online parking payment portal.
Sakaja urged residents to rely only on official county communication for updates, insisting that no changes have been made to the parking fee structure.
The clarification comes more than a year after the county introduced free Saturday parking as part of measures aimed at easing the cost of doing business in the capital.
Before the policy change, free parking was only available on Sundays.
“Yes, indeed, parking is free on Saturdays. You can come to town, park your car and not pay anything,” Sakaja said when announcing the directive.
He explained that the initiative was intended to reduce the financial burden on Nairobi residents while encouraging more people to visit the city over the weekend.
As a result, motorists now enjoy free parking on both Saturdays and Sundays.
“This ensures that we maximise revenue collection during weekdays while giving Nairobians the chance to enjoy free parking over the weekend,” he explained.
The county said the weekend parking waiver was designed to stimulate business activity, particularly in the Central Business District (CBD), by encouraging more shoppers and visitors to spend time in the city.
The policy was also expected to benefit small businesses by increasing customer traffic while making Nairobi more accessible for motorists.
Since its introduction, the move has been welcomed by many traders and motorists, who say it has helped reduce transport-related costs during weekends.