#one year later
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| mutuamatheka photography on Nairobi |
The two bumped heads for the first time in January last year
when they met for a national televised debate. Based on his grasp of factual
and statistical knowledge, Dr Evans Kidero may have gotten the better of his
opponent, but basing on the majority of social media websites then, analysts
argued the populist appeal of Ferdinand Waititu might have won over the majority
of the voters. Well, both representing different faces of the Nairobi populace,
Kidero ended up at the big office.
“Traffic jams will be a thing of the past;” so said Dr Kidero
in the much publicized TV duel. With many putting their hopes in Kidero, alas! A
year in office and things seem to have remained the same, if not worse.
Nairobi is in perpetual standstill day and night. On average,
a city resident will spend four hours a day in traffic. On average, that is a
month in a year doing nothing. The World Bank estimates the daily clog costs sh
50 million.
A survivor’s manual for anyone visiting Nairobi is how to
survive in traffic in sweltering heat and getting bullied by other motorists
and pedestrians.
With various interventions that have been mooted and
applied, none seems to have worked so far. Traffic lights do not work while the
clueless traffic Marshalls introduced by the county government, almost brought
the city to a standstill.
The new sheriff in town promised a lot in 100 days in
office. To ensure cleanliness, orderliness, security, garbage collection,
decongesting the city and control crime.
This unending gridlock has made Nairobi less friendly place
to invest in with most offices exiting the city Centre.
The dream of turning Nairobi into a world-class city seems a
‘dream on paper.’
Although it is understandable that 12 months might be too
short a time to expect any solution for a problem that goes back beyond the current
city administration, “Nairobians voted overwhelmingly for me and
they deserve a competent leader who will deliver a better life and city.” Not my
words but Kidero’s.
By Embukane Vincent Libosso.
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