Nairobi taxi operators protest over parking fees

Taxi operators have held a demonstration against higher parking fees in the Kenyan capital, paralyzing public transportation in the city.

Nairobi commuters were forced to walk to work after taxi operators and drivers of private minibus taxis, known as matatus, blocked the busiest streets of Nairobi including Thika Highway, Jogoo Road and the central business district on Wednesday.

The protest comes after Nairobi governor Evans Kidero introduced higher parking fees to reduce traffic in the city center.

Under new plans, parking fees for a 14-seater minibus doubled to 5,000 Kenyan shillings ($58), while increases for larger taxis were even higher.

Matatu Owners Association representative Michael Kariuki said that higher fees are unaffordable for operators and drivers, and that the fees could knock many of them out of business.

Addressing the demonstrators at City Hall, Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko advised the protesters to continue paying previous rates while urging Kidero to consult widely before imposing new fees.

“I would like to appeal to Governor Kidero to consult with other leaders when making major decisions about the County. This county is not Mumias Sugar [a company where Kidero previously worked for]. From today, you should not pay the increased rates,” Sonko said.

Kidero says he will not come to the negotiation table with protesters until they stop the blockade in the city center.

“If it is done in the next 10 minutes, then we will have a meeting and agree,” the Nairobi governor stated.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s riot police dispersed protesters later in the morning as they tried to bring order to the city.

In November 2012, a strike by Matatu operators over tougher penalties for traffic offenses led to hours-long chaos in the city.