Kenya is among UK-based diplomatic missions owing the Transport for London (TfL) millions of pounds in congestion charges.
In a list issued by TfL, Kenya is yet to pay £3,260,940 (Ksh.466,095,610) in congestion charges, ranking among some of the diplomatic missions labelled ‘stubborn’.
The congestion charge was introduced in England in 2003. The scheme involves a £15 daily fee for driving within an area of central London between 07:00 and 18:00 on weekdays, and between noon and 18:00 on weekends and bank holidays.
There are discounts and exemptions for various groups of people and vehicles, such as residents, taxis and fully electric cars.
“We and the UK Government are clear that the Congestion Charge is a charge for a service and not a tax. This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it. The majority of embassies in London do pay the charge, but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels. We will continue to pursue all unpaid Congestion Charge fees and related penalty charge notices and are pushing for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice,” TfL said in a statement.
Top of the list is the American embassy in London, which owes TfL over 14 million pounds. The embassy issued a statement saying the Congestion charge is a tax and that it is exempt from paying it.
However, TfL said it is a charge for a service and not a tax. Japan is second with over 10 million pounds, India and Nigeria with over 8 million pounds.
Among the top ten defaulters are Embassy of Japan, Office of the High Commissioner for India, High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Embassy of the Russian Federation, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, High Commission of the Republic of Ghana, Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan.
