Supermarkets selling carrier bags to pay fees to City Hall –Kerich
Supermarkets that charge shoppers for carrier bags will soon start paying a fee to Nairobi County Government.
The county has also introduced a new levy on private premises offering parking services where motorists are billed on hourly basis.
The new levies are contained in the 2018/19 budget estimates unveiled by the county administration on Tuesday.
Nairobi County acting finance executive Charles Kerich said that the measures are aimed at helping the county realise its internal revenue target of Sh15 billion in the 2018/2019 financial year.
“We want to introduce a fee so that when shoppers spend money the supermarket should provide carrier bags for the commodity. They used to give out free paper bags before the plastic ban which probably cost the same amount as the carrier bags which are now on sale. Since the ban on plastic bags, many supermarkets have taken to charging their customers for shopping carrier bags. Supermarkets that charge shoppers for bags will be required to pay a fee,” said Mr Kerich on Tuesday.
PARKING CHARGES
“Many Nairobi residents are being subjected to parking charges in various premises like shopping malls, supermarkets and hospitals. I will be proposing a fee for all private parking spaces that charge their customers hourly parking rates.”
City Hall will also give incentives to private players who wish to develop new parking bays outside their premises in order to increase the total number of parking slots available and generate revenue.
The Finance Executive also proposed a review of fees payable for outdoor advertising and signage’s to match existing market realities while also introducing towing charge for parking defaulters, and an environmental waste management charge for households and businesses to enhance solid waste management for a clean and sustainable City.
Mr Kerich also said that the county will introduce a fee on gambling, gaming and lotteries which he said the county has not been receiving its fair share from despite it being a devolved function under the Constitution.
At the same time, the county has abolished the Sh25 charged on mama mbogas operating in the estates but the incentive will not affect traders operating in designated market and discernible commercial areas, who will be required to pay the fee.
This is expected to transfer direct benefits to households estimated at Sh3 billion annually.