Businesses closed as Nairobi gears up to welcome Obama
A deserted Kenyatta Avenue on July 24, 2015. PHOTO | BASILLIOH MUTAHI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Workers in the city’s main avenues and streets, such as Haile Selasie and Kenyatta Avenues and roundabouts, were busy putting in the final touches as US and Kenyan flags draped the city’s roads ready to receive US president Barack Obama.
- The measures appeared intentioned to ensure criminals did not take advantage to cause mayhem, as Kenyans remained expectant and jovial over the arrival of the US President, who is also considered a son of the soil.
If there was any evidence required that the country was in an expectant mood for an important visitor, it was the smooth flow of traffic in Nairobi’s city centre, which was unlike the usual gridlock.
Workers in the city’s main avenues and streets, such as Haile Selassie and Kenyatta Avenues and roundabouts, were busy putting in the final touches as US and Kenyan flags draped the city’s roads ready to receive US President Barack Obama.
Security was also tight, with NYS servicemen stationed outside supermarkets while most National Prison Service warders, patrolling the virtually empty streets, directed one pedestrian or the other to show their identification before letting them proceed to their destinations.
The measures appeared intentioned to ensure criminals did not take advantage to cause mayhem, as Kenyans remained expectant and jovial over the arrival of the US President, who is also considered a son of the soil.
FEW CUSTOMERS
Some of the businesses in the busy Kirinyaga Road and Tom Mboya street remained closed as some operators remained open to serve the few customers available, as most of the city’s population usually bustling and filling up the streets, chose to stay away.
The few traders who opened their businesses, however lamented over slow business, with some taxi drivers and petrol station attendants saying they had virtually not done any business since opening time in the morning.
“I have not made even a single trip but I am ready to persevere this for the three days or so that President Obama will be home because it is a good thing he is visiting the land of his father,” said a taxi driver on Muindi Mbingu Street.
DEJECTED LOOK
A petrol station attendant at Shell on Kenyatta Avenue said he had done little business since the premises opened in the morning, and attributed it to motorists keeping their vehicles away since they had been warned that some of the city’s thoroughfares would be closed.
His dejected look resembled someone who had not done much since morning and was perhaps in deep thoughts whether it was worth the while to open up the business.
He could as well have stayed at home like the majority of the city dwellers if for nothing else to on reflect Mr Obama’s immense achievements that have propelled him to be the most powerful person in the world.
