Climate Summit guests, residents assured of security

A traffic police officer controls traffic along Parliament Road ahead of the Africa Climate Summit 2023 in Nairobi. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard]

Visitors attending the African Climate Summit have been assured of their security during week-long conference.

Central Sub-County Police Commander Dorris Kemei said there are no restrictions to sections of the city that the guests can attend.

Kemei said everyone is free to move freely in town, advising that those who will attend the Climate Summit are City visitors and will be protected.

"We have deployed both uniformed and plain clothe police officers all over the city to cover all areas of the city," she added.

The police boss said boda-boda riders who have been roaming around the city centre have also been ordered to stick to their picking and droppings points to avoid any inconveniences during the summit.

On Friday, Nairobi County Commander Adamson Bungei released an elaborate security plan for the city ahead of the summit.

He listed sections of the city roads that will be closed to allow safe mobility of delegates.

"Some areas have been marked as red zones meaning they only be accessible to the delegates, these are Harambee Avenue, City Hall Way, Taifa road including reinsurance and Sunken parking," Bungei said.

Other areas are, Parliament Road, Intercontinental Hotel and Holy Family Basilica areas.

"All roads leading to Harambee Avenue will be closed between the 4th September to 6th December 2023, no vehicles will be allowed to join city hall through Wabera Street," Bungei said.

He said all vehicles accessing the CBD from Valley Road will use Kenyatta Avenue and those from Westlands to use University Way through Globe roundabout to CBD.

While those from Ngong road are expected to use Haile Selassie Avenue and those from Mombasa and Lang'ata road to CBD will use Lusaka road then Landhies to the city centre.

Motorists from Waiyaki way and Nakuru general direction intending to access Mombasa road will use the Southern bypass.

Bungei said adequate security will be provided to everyone within and outside the city centre.

Bungie also noted that security will not only be provided by the police, but noted that other security agencies will be deployed during the arrival, their stay and departures of the guests.

Meanwhile, Nairobi County has also put up measures to ensure that the Africa Climate Change Summit goes on as planned at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said already the County has engaged all the main organizers among them key ministries for the Summit.

"We are happy that Nairobi has been seen as the global capital and we will be hosting more than 24 Presidents and delegates from across the world," he noted.

"As county we have been in technical planning committees together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tourism and Environment to plan how we will welcome the guests and manage traffic," Sakaja added.

He said some of the hotels where the guests and delegates will stay have been identified in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign affairs.

Sakaja said that in the summit Nairobi County has a plan as global city and will focus on some issues like showcasing its role on environment conservation.

"This will include flagging of electric buses on Sunday at Greenpark to showcase how we are moving away from fuels that pollute environment through unfriendly emissions," Sakaja said.

The Governor said the Climate Change summit is timely since in June he was elected as Vice Chair of the C40 Steering Committee chaired by the London Mayor.

This is the governing body providing strategic direction for the global network of nearly 100 cities committed to addressing the global climate crisis.

In terms of environment conservation, Sakaja said the County has already employed 3,500 youths from all the wards so that they can help in greening the city.

"We are not doing that because of the visitors but for our own good as the city. I also urge the residents to play their part where they can," he said.

He said the County has added 27 garbage trucks and 60 contractors tasked to help in garbage collection.

Meanwhile police have issued a notice in some areas that activities will be partly disrupted during the Summit.

Nairobi County Commander Adamson Bungei has however stated that intense security will be provided to everyone around and outside the city centre.

"Some areas have been marked as red zones meaning they only be accessible to the delegates, these are Harambee Avenue, City Hall Way, Taifa road including reinsurance and Sunken parking," Bungei stated.

Other areas are, Parliament Road, Intercontinental Hotel and Holy Family Basilica areas.

"All roads leading to Harambee Avenue will be closed between the 4th September to 6th December 2023, no vehicles will be allowed to join city hall through Wabera Street," Bungei added.

All vehicles accessing the CBD from Valley road will use Kenyatta Avenue and those from Westlands to use University Way through Globe roundabout to CBD.

While those from Ngong road are expected to use Haile Selassie Avenue and those from Mombasa and Lang'ata road to CBD will use Lusaka road then Landhies to the city centre.

Motorists from Waiyaki way and Nakuru general direction intending to access Mombasa road will use the Southern bypass.