Motorists told to keep off key roads in major traffic re-organisation

From left: Nairobi County Police Commandant Benson Kibue, Traffic Commandant Edward Mwamburi and Deputy County Police Commandant Joseph Limo address reporters on July 22, 2015 at the Nairobi County police headquarters. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP.

What you need to know:

  • On Friday, Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, Chiromo Road and Museum Hill Road will be closed to the public, according to Nairobi County Traffic Commandant Edward Mwamburi.
  • Limuru Road and Thika Road will not be accessed on Saturday and Mr Mwamburi advised motorists to use the linkages that exist between the two roads, including Kikuyu Road and the Northern Bypass.
  • For every schedule that will arise, he said, the roads that will be used by President Obama and other heads of state will be closed two hours before the event.

Key roads in Nairobi will be closed during US President Barack Obama’s visit later this week.

Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way, Uhuru Highway and other roads leading to the city centre will be closed during the visit.

On Friday, from 2pm until late at night, Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, Chiromo Road and Museum Hill Road will be closed to all but emergency and security vehicles, according to Nairobi County Traffic Commandant Edward Mwamburi,

“These roads include Haile Selassie Avenue, parts of Moi Avenue near the roundabout, (the) Haile Selassie Avenue and Landhies Road intersection and parts of Waiyaki Way,” Mr Mwamburi said.

He asked motorists to take advantage of the recently opened bypasses to ease their movement during that period, especially the Southern Bypass in Kikuyu.

“If you are a motorist and you do not intend to go to the CBD (central business district) or you have no business at the CBD, take advantage of the Southern Bypass, especially if you are coming from the western side of the county.

“You may also take the other side of Ruaka Road so that you may join (the) Northern Bypass so as to avoid Waiyaki Way and the CBD in general” Mr Mwamburi said.

LINK ROADS

He advised those who reside between Kikuyu and Westlands along Waiyaki Way to use the many U-turns and intersections that are available on Waiyaki Way, such as James Gichuru Road, to link up with Ngong Road to access other parts of the county.

He said there will be no vehicles allowed beyond Waiyaki Way and University Way at certain times during the visit.

He added that traffic police officers, who have already been mobilised, will direct vehicles according to the business of the day.

Limuru Road and Thika Road will not be accessed on Saturday, and Mr Mwamburi advised motorists to use the linkages that exist between the two roads, including Kikuyu Road and the Northern Bypass.

“We request that motorists ... accommodate all the changes that may come in between, depending on unexpected changes in the schedule of the heads of state and other dignitaries. We kindly request that they accord the police officers all the respect so as to ease movement,” Mr Mwamburi said.

He said Thika Road will be affected on Saturday morning and on Sunday but officers would direct traffic depending on the schedule and events of the day.

HEADS OF STATE

For every schedule that will arise, he said, the roads that will be used by President Obama and other heads of state will be closed two hours before the event.

“We advise Kenyans to take note of the roads that will be closed before they start their journeys to avoid inconveniences” Mr Mwamburi said.

Nairobi County Police Commandant Benson Kibui said about 10,000 police officers have been deployed to Nairobi to provide security.

He said the officers will work in collaboration with security agencies from the United States and other countries.

“We ask residents to cooperate with all the security agencies so as to ease operation. If you are not invited for some of these events, we advise that you do not show up at the venue because you will not be allowed to attend,” Mr Kibui said, adding that businesses would not be disrupted during the three days.

He was meeting with all police division commanders (OCPDs) and Administration Police commanders in Nairobi for a security meeting ahead of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit to be held beginning Saturday.