Obama's coming shouldn't occasion lockdown in Nairobi

The first ever Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Sub-Saharan Africa comes to Nairobi from July 24-25. The summit will be held at the United Nations Gigiri offices with expected attendance of at least 2,000 delegates. US President Barack Obama is among the dignitaries expected to attend.

His coming to Kenya has great symbolism especially when viewed against the fact that this is the land of his ancestors. Barack Obama senior hailed from Kogelo village in Siaya County. Expectation is palpable across the country. Not only will the summit be used to showcase innovations, it will also present an opportunity to market our tourist attractions and also proclaim Kenya as a safe destination for tourism and an investment destination.

It will also serve as an affirmation that President Obama, who is due to leave office after serving his second term one-and-a-half years from now, intends to make sure his three initiatives for Africa bear fruit. Feed the Future, Trade Africa and Power Africa, will in many ways significantly increase foreign direct investment on the continent. With Obama's visit, the Kenyan business community stands a high chance of locking some of the lucrative deals.

 Mr Obama's visit, however, has its downside. Social media went wild last week after a statement supposedly issued from the police headquarters detailing the disruption the visit would occasion city residents was circulated. Though the Government later denied the statement, there is no doubt life will not be the same for city residents for at least 48 hours.

An American President's security detail is massive in every sense of the word. Advance parties secure areas to guarantee the President of the world's only Superpower is safe. Roads get closed and telecommunication systems within a certain radius of the President's vicinity get disrupted for hours. Some localities are declared no-go zones. With the threat of Al Shabaab, the security of Mr Obama is likely to be more intense.

Nairobians have been warned by no less an authority than State House that they must brace themselves for massive disruptions in the two days that Mr Obama will be in town. Two years ago when President Obama visited Tanzania, virtually all life ground to a halt and we can only imagine what it will be like now that he is coming to Kenya. The question is; need that be so?

A lockdown is the last thing the city needs. The security bubble around the American President will not do much to promote the City in the Sun as less insecure. Quite the reverse. While we appreciate concerns over Mr Obama's security, everything must be done to ensure minimum disruptions to the people's daily routines.

Getting alternative routes for motorists is necessary to get the city running despite the high profile guest in town. The Traffic Department and the Nairobi County government must ensure traffic flows smoothly with minimum disruptions by putting out fliers in the media to guide motorists. In the worst case scenario, it should advise against all, but essential travel to the capital city.

Most importantly, the conundrum the city finds itself in as the arrival of the most powerful man on earth nears underscores the need for an efficient public transport system to reduce the number of private cars on the road, which contribute to the perennial snarl-ups. Yet despite that, Gigiri is nearly 7km away from Nairobi's Central Business District and there is no reason activity in the town should be restricted, if at all.