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‘Kidero grass’ now a top revenue earner

By HILARY KIMUYU September 12th, 2015 1 min read

In late July with President Barack Obama’s visit to Kenya looming, everyone poked fun at Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero for ‘his’ grass which simply ‘refused’ to grow ahead of the American leader’s arrival in the capital.

But hey! Guess whose laughing now? With the lash grass now flourishing, the shoe is on the other foot; everyday unsuspecting Nairobians are slapped with hefty fines for stepping on the city’s most prized parcel of vegetation.

According to reports from people in the know at City Hall, the Nairobi County government is said to be banking more than Sh10 million per week from fines imposed on city residents caught stepping on Kidero’s grass.

A woman who was caught walking on the grass along Uhuru Highway is escorted by officers from Nairobi County Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement team. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE
A woman who was caught walking on the grass along Uhuru Highway is escorted by officers from Nairobi County Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement team. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE

SUBSTANTIAL REVENUE

Offenders are fined between Sh 700 and Sh 1,500 by the hawk-eyed county workers tasked with the responsibility of manning the grass along Uhuru Highway and Mombasa Road.

The county government is also said to be collecting substantial revenue from fines for littering and crossing roads at non-designated places.

The Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement team, a watchdog of the county, has been keeping an eye along highways to arrest offenders who go against the county by-laws.

However, when Nairobi News sought confirmation on the matter, the Director of Communications in the Governor’s Office, Walter Mongare, was non-committal.