Motorists in Nairobi’s Central Business District are increasingly finding themselves at the mercy of illegal “parking boys”, forced to pay unofficial fees or risk returning to vandalised vehicles.
According to a report by the Daily Nation, the syndicates operate openly on major streets including Banda Street, Kimathi Street and around the Sunken Car Park and have turned parking into a daily gamble marked by threats, intimidation and outright extortion.
“I paid the county fee, but they still demanded Sh200 to ‘watch’ my car,” said one motorist who parks along Kimathi Street. “If you refuse, you come back to a scratched door or missing side mirror. At this point, you just pay to avoid trouble.” he added.
For many drivers, the pressure is constant. In a congested CBD where parking spaces are limited, urgency often leaves motorists with no option but to comply.
“Sometimes you are in a rush for a meeting, and these guys are the ones guiding you,” another driver said. “You do not even argue. You just give them the money and hope your car will still be intact when you return.”
County officials estimate the city is losing at least Sh300,000 daily to the illegal operations, even as motorists continue to pay twice, once through official channels and again to the street operators.
Despite efforts to digitise parking payments, enforcement gaps have allowed a parallel cash system to thrive, often involving collusion between rogue attendants and the illegal groups.
The problem is not new. For years, informal parking cartels have operated across the CBD, zoning streets and charging motorists between Sh20 and Sh200 depending on demand, often threatening those who refuse with vandalism or tyre deflation.
Recent data also shows parking revenue has been under pressure, dropping to about Sh1.89 billion in the year to June 2025, with disruptions and systemic inefficiencies compounding losses.
For motorists, however, the impact is immediate and personal.
What was once a routine part of driving into town has now become a daily risk calculation. Pay unofficial fees or gamble with your vehicle’s safety.
In Nairobi’s CBD, parking is no longer just about finding space. It is about navigating a system where fear, not law, determines who is in control.