GOVERNOR KIDERO’S SCORECARD ONE YEAR LATER

#one year later

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.