CNN’s top business anchor Richard Quest was on the receiving end of the wrath of KOT after commenting about the traffic jam menace in Nairobi.
As observed by the celebrated journalist, the roundabouts have new traffic lights which are normally switched off as police take over.
“The roundabouts have new traffic lights; which are usually switched off. Instead A policeman directs the traffic flow. The jams are extraordinary.” Quest posted on his Twitter handle to the uproar of Kenyans.
The roundabouts have new traffic lights; which are usually switched off. Instead A policeman directs the traffic flow. The jams are extraordinary. #nairobi #kenya pic.twitter.com/qfklKJLEVY
— Richard Quest (@richardquest) October 24, 2018
But what he said is true. In 2017, a study rated Nairobi as the second-worst city in the world on traffic congestion.
There was this one time I had an appointment in town at 12 noon. Having been jobless during that period, I waited until around 10am to leave my house, as this is the time when fares are a bit low.
I stay in Embakasi. The journey was normal until we reached The City Stadium and met a hell of a traffic jam. We were just crawling to town. To cut the story short, I reached town a little after 1pm.
I didn’t understand the cause of such heavy traffic until Richard Quest introduced the topic. It has been revealed that fraudulent hawkers collude with the police to cause traffic jams so that they can sale their merchandise.
That’s according to one Kenyan on who commented on Quest’s initial Tweet.
The hawkers collect cash and pay to the police men so that they hold traffic, this allows the hawkers extra time in the traffic to sell their wares. Quest means business, Jam means business pic.twitter.com/Pc5A9fhhaz
— chaos (@kibee) October 24, 2018
His theory makes sense. We have all been caught up in traffic jams where we are bombarded by numerous hawkers selling their fake merchandise. The presence of police around these places is usually very high.
Ironically, you will find that the road is clearly immediately you leave these places. I am not saying that hawkers are the only cause of traffic. I acknowledge that there are other numerous reasons. But this has to end.