Uhuru in surprise city tour

Muindi Mbingu Street with new pedestrian pavements and rehabilitated road on August 6, 2020. [David Gichuru,Standard]

President Uhuru Kenyatta made another tour of the city on Saturday night to inspect projects by the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS).

The president, who was accompanied by NMS officials led by Maj-Gen Mohamed Badi, first stopped at GPO along Kenyatta Avenue where sidewalks are under construction.

Kenyatta was driving himself in a salon police car and had a lean security. He later drove to Kirinyaga Road where he met a crowd and briefly addressed them. His motorcade then snaked out to Thika Road, Outering Road and Jogoo Road.

He also visited a market that is under construction along Kangundo Road at about 2am before leaving. The motorcade later visited Eastleigh and Juja Road. He also visited projects in Mukuru slums and Railways area in the CBD.

The president drove back to the city and stopped to talk to police officers on foot patrol. He later visited Kilimani police station to check its operations.

Uhuru told officers on duty he was impressed by the newly launched digital Occurrence Book (OB), which was launched in Nairobi on August 3 by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i. The OB enables officers to record incidents at the scenes and is difficult to manipulate.

Kenyatta signed a visitors book at the station before leaving. “Visit to Kilimani to view progress with new OB. Well done, keep it up,” the president wrote in the book. Witnesses said he looked happy and ready to spend the night out.

“He was not in a hurry. He was in a jovial mood driving himself and seemed to know the city roads well,” said an official who knew about the movements. Many officers were caught off guard. This is the fifth time the president has made such a visit in the city.

President Kenyatta had in June inspected ongoing rehabilitation of roads in the CBD in the company of ODM leader Raila Odinga. [Cyrus Ombati]

NMS is under the Office of the President.

In June, the president made a surprise visit to Uhuru Gardens along Langata road, which led to its immediate closure.

The president, who arrived in an unmarked car, drove into Uhuru Gardens and inspected it before he was seen making calls.

This came amid reports the Memorial Park had been handed over to the Kenya Defence Forces for refurbishment and further use.

It was being managed by the Museums of Kenya, which is under the Ministry of Sports.

Tenants who have been operating from the park were given a day to move out.

After the president arrived and left, a team of military officers came and started to fence it that night.

Those within the park then said they overheard the president question the receiver who they believe was a senior military officer on what they had done since the park was handed over to them.

The president seems to be free to move at night when there is less traffic in the city.