Mombasa County has announced sweeping new charges and penalties across transport, trade, public health, and education, set to take effect from January 1, 2026, following the approval of the 2025 Finance Bill.
The amendments, ratified in a special assembly sitting on Thursday, December 18, aim to boost revenue, improve service delivery, and reflect current economic realities.
Private vehicle owners will now pay dumping fees calculated per tonne per trip instead of a flat rate, a step intended to curb environmental pollution.
Port users face new tariffs: importers will pay Sh. 513 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU), exporters and empty containers Sh. 262 per TEU, while imported vehicles will attract a fee of Sh. 645 each.
Traffic offenders, including those who double park or obstruct roads, will face fines of Sh. 5,000. Road cutting procedures now include an application fee of Sh. 10,000, a supervision fee of 5 percent of total works, an inspection fee of Sh. 15,000, and a completion certificate fee of Sh. 20,000.
Trade and investment have also seen major adjustments. Offloading charges for imported grain will vary by tonnage, ranging from USD 0.6 per tonne for consignments up to 2,000 tonnes to USD 0.2 per tonne for consignments above 8,000 tonnes.
Scrap materials such as cullet, feldspar, and waste oil will now attract Sh. 400 per pickup. Logistics operators must pay single business permit fees: Sh. 10 per TEU, USD 5 per imported motor vehicle, and USD 0.3 per metric tonne for non-containerised goods.
Transporters received relief as quarry product fees were cut. A canter will now pay Sh. 325 down from Sh. 1,300; a 7-tonne lorry Sh. 700 down from Sh. 2,800; 7–14 tonne lorries Sh. 1,000 down from Sh. 4,000; and lorries over 14 tonnes Sh. 2,000 down from Sh. 8,000.
Public health regulations now include a fumigation fee structure linked to business permits. Educational institutions will pay Sh. 100 per square metre, while factories, supermarkets, and warehouses will pay Sh. 150 per square metre.
Kibwana Swaleh, Miritini Ward MCA and chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Budget, and Appropriations, said, “These amendments are designed to enhance revenue collection, improve service delivery, and align county charges with prevailing economic realities.”
During the sitting, two County Executive Committee Members were confirmed: Ibrahim Khamis Mutwafy will oversee Blue Economy, Cooperatives, Agriculture, and Livestock, while Jonathan Wepukhulu takes charge of Public Service Administration, Youth, Gender, and Sports.
