Empty parking slots as city motorists opt for matatus
Privately owned parking areas in the city centre have been experiencing low business for the past week since the enforcement of the 16% Value Added Tax on petroleum products
The parking areas that are usually full by mid-morning are now struggling to get full occupancy during peak parking hours.
The NSSF grounds parking area opposite Laico Regency is one of the most affected. By the time Nairobi News visited on Tuesday at 10am the parking lot was half empty.
Parking attendants lamented at the low business, with Mondays being the only better day of the week.
“Monday used to be our best day, by 9am the parking would be full. But now it barely fills up. The rest of the weekdays are worse with sometimes half of the slots still empty by mid-day,” an attendant said.
At one of the entry points, Nairobi News found a motorist negotiating for special rates.
“With the increased fuel prices I can only beg the parking guys to give me a discount so as not to spend too much in a day,” she said.
One of the managers who declined to be named said the parking rates remain at Sh300 because the operational costs are still the same.
“We still have to pay workers, pay for licenses and it’s not like managing this place is getting any cheaper so we cannot lower the rates,” he said.
Some city motorists have opted to car pool, while others drive to town less often, opting to use public transport during some of the days.
“We have experienced a 30 per cent decrease in earnings. Initially motorists would come each person in their own vehicle but now they come even four people per vehicle. The increased fuel prices have really affected us yet our operational costs have remained the same… business is down,” a manager Samson Agwa said.