Pain for Nairobi motorists, traders as City Hall mulls new levies to finance Sh39b budget

Skyline of the city of Nairobi, Kenya [Courtesy]

City residents will soon dig deeper into their pockets to finance the county government’s Sh39 billion budget.

The Nairobi County Finance Bill, 2021 has proposed raft of new taxes with the hardest hit being motorists, fresh produce suppliers, health services and the construction industry.

The taxes are aimed at aiding the county to achieve its Sh19.8 billion own-source revenue target for the financial year ending June 30, 2022.

The proposed levies tabled in the assembly last week are undergoing public participation before debate before the House in January where they will either be approved or rejected.

key among the proposals is doubling parking fees from Sh200 to Sh400 for motorists accessing the Central Business District (CBD) classified under Zone I.

Those operating in Westlands, Yaya Centre, Upper Hill, Community, Ngara, Highridge, Industrial area, Gigiri, Kilimani, Milimani, Hurlingham, Lavington, Karen and Eastleigh areas which fall under Zone II will pay Sh300 for parking.

Motorists parking in Zone III – which includes all areas not in Zones I or and II or residential areas not included in the CBD and other zones- will pay Sh200. Those in Zone IV- areas that border other counties -will part with Sh100.

Fresh produce suppliers to markets in the city have also been slapped with a new charge for offloading different produce.

Flower traders will pay Sh3000 per lorry to offload their produce while offloading avocados, tomatoes, groundnuts and thorn melon will be charged between Sh50 and Sh1,500 depending on the vehicle size and per kilo.

Potato farmers will be charged Sh50 per bag while macadamia and French beans traders will have to pay Sh1,000 per tonne.

Miraa traders have also been slapped with a Sh100 fee for a 1kg bag, Sh500 per box for 101-500kg and Sh1000 for bags above 500kg.

Traders operating from Kirindini and Westlands markets, will be slapped with new levies for market stalls.

To occupy stalls, food courts and courtyards at Karindini market, traders will be charged Sh60 for ground floor and Sh54 for the first floor.

For the open food court, Sh30 will be charged for the courtyard, Sh45 to occupy the ground floor and Sh40 for the first floor.

In Westlands market, eateries on the ground floor will be charged Sh70, Sh58 for the first floor, Sh58 second floor and Sh36 to occupy the third floor.

Butcheries and salons with roller shutter doors on the ground floor will be charged Sh100, first floor Sh80, second floor Sh64 and third floor Sh50.

For open curios slots and half-height portion stalls, traders on the ground floor will be charged Sh50 while those on the first, second and third floors will be charged Sh40, Sh32 and Sh26 respectively.

According to the Finance Bill, residents will also start paying a flat charge of Sh3,000 for Covid-19 PCR test.

Moreover, new charges for tests under public health services have been proposed. Payment for food laboratory tests will now range between Sh500 and Sh2,500 depending on what is being tested.

To test for glucose content, one will pay Sh 500, alcoholic content Sh1,500, yeast and moulds Sh700, aflatoxin test Sh3,500, aflatoxin (B1) Sh3,500 and mercury Sh700.

Tests for vibrio cholera, plate count, salmonella, listeria and staphylococci will cost Sh1,000.

Cleaning and disinfection companies in the city will also have to pay Sh20,000 while anyone seeking to sell water from private boreholes and water bowsers will be charged Sh10,000.

Additionally, waste management companies will be required to pay a fee of Sh10,0000 while waste handlers will part with Sh1,000. Private incinerators will be charged Sh10,000 for inspection.

Property developers have also not be spared as City Hall seeks to introduce monthly seasonal tickets for building materials transporters.

Transporters of building stones up to 7 tons per month will be charged Sh48,000, above 7 to10 tons per month Sh72,000, above 10 to 15 tons per month Sh96,000, and above 15 tons per month Sh144,000.

Those transporting sand and ballast of up to 7 tons per month will pay Sh48,000, above 7 to 10 tons Sh72,000, above 10 to 15 tons Sh96,000 and above 15 tons per month Sh120,000.

Owners of motor vehicles displaying goods or trading on road reserves measuring 30 by 60 feet will part with Sh15,000 per month, Sh40,000 for three months, Sh75,000 for six months and Sh140,000 for one year.