City Motorists will be forced to pay shs 400 to park in the CBD if the Nairobi County Finance bill is implemented.
Sonko was speaking when he joined staff of the County Government and members of the Nairobi County Assembly Budget and Appropriation committee to review the 2019 Finance Bill.
He said the proposed increment of parking fees to Sh400 within the CBD must be enforced, but other areas outside the city centre will pay less.
“We must decongest the CBD and the enhanced parking will assist to achieve this. Other areas will be charged depending on the zone,” Sonko said.
Sonko directed the County Executive to withdraw the legal notice that allowed for immediate implementation of the 2019 Finance Bill.
The Governor called for further consultation on a raft of proposed charges contained in the bill.
He directed that places of worship should not be charged for waste collection, and the fee charged to small dealers of cooking gas be reduced from Sh30,000 per year, back to the previous rate of Sh4,500 per year.
He urged the Committee and Executive to consider creating an environment that will encourage entrepreneurship and not to kill the hopes of young people who are struggling to make ends meet in the City.
“We have to be careful not to kill the hopes of our young people out there by coming up with outrageous charges,” Sonko said.
The Nairobi County Government is targeting to raise Sh17.3 billion from its internal revenue collection.
In the financial year ended June 30th, the county raised Sh10.17 billion, a 1% increase from the Sh10.1 billion raised the previous year.
The Governor acknowledged that the county has to do everything possible to meet its revenue targets but he said that should not mean burdening the residents with excess taxes. Finance Executive Charles Kerich had issued a memorandum to effect some changes through a legal notice.
Sonko said the County Government must put extra efforts to reduce its pending bills and debts, including a debt swap with the National Government that owes the county government money in lieu of rates and parking.
Sonko also called on the national government to fast-track the payment of a Sh200 billion debts owed to the county.