Marsabit Municipality begun collecting parking fees in Marsabit Town triggering protests, with the county officials defending the charges as legally provided for under the County Finance Act, while an advocate and residents have challenged the move.
Marsabit Chief Officer for Lands and Urban Development, Galm Guyo, said the parking charges are provided for under the Finance Act, which underwent public participation and was subsequently approved by the County Assembly.
He said the municipality was only operationalizing provisions that had already been approved, noting that charges were not new revenue stream introduced by the municipality.
Guyo said the municipality had delayed implementation of the parking fees because of logistics challenges but had since undertaken public participation and sensitization with stakeholders before commencing collection.
He said the municipality was encouraging motorists and residents to make payments electronically through the designated pay bills systems rather than paying cash to revenue officers.
According to Guyo, the charges are Sh50 per day for small vehicles and boda bodas, Sh100 for shuttles, Sh200 for buses and Sh500 for trucks and lorries, with arrangements also being made for monthly payments
He warned that corruption by revenue officers would not be tolerated and said officers found engaging in corrupt practices would face administrative action. He also urged residents not to connive in corrupt dealings with county officials.
Marsabit Town Administrator Boru Golicha said the revenue collected would contribute to the development and improvement of services in the municipality.
He said the parking charges were also intended to promote order and sanity in the town, particularly in the management of vehicles and parking spaces.
Golicha urged residents to view the charges as a contribution towards improving their town rather than as a punitive measure.
Meanwhile, advocate and Marsabit resident John Behailu has strongly opposed the introduction of the parking fees, arguing that the municipality had not followed the required legislative process.
Behailu claimed that the municipality did not have sole authority to introduce the charges and that the matter should have gone through the County Assembly, including public participation involving motorists and other members of the public.
He questioned whether the charges had been supported by adequate research and consultation, particularly on the amounts imposed on different categories of vehicles.
Behailu also raised concerns over the number of designated parking spaces, saying the available spaces were insufficient for the number of vehicles using Marsabit Town. He further questioned the lack of clearly designated parking areas for boda boda operators.
He called for the municipality to suspend the collection immediately and warned that legal action could be taken if the process continued without what he described as the necessary legislative and administrative procedures.
The advocate also criticized the municipality’s revenue collection system, calling for a more comprehensive digital payment platform capable of automatically generating receipts and improving accountability.
On drainage and wastes management, Marsabit Municipality Board Chairman Adan Wario said the municipality had begun cleaning solid waste from drainage channels ahead of the expected rains.
Wario said poor waste disposal by residents was contributing significantly to blocked drainage systems, resulting in flooding of roads, businesses and homes.
He said the municipality would intensify public sensitization through media platforms and a vehicle fitted with a public address system to educate residents on proper waste disposal.
Wario urged residents to take the responsibility of disposing of waste at designated collection points instead of dumping it in drainages channels.
He said the municipality was also working to improve pedestrian safety by covering open drainage channels that previously forced pedestrians and motorists to share limited road space.
The competing positions have brought renewed attention to the need for clear legislative procedures, public participation, and transparent revenue collection and improved parking and drainage infrastructure as Marsabit Municipality seeks to strengthen its revenue base and improve service delivery.
By Anthony Melly
