Taking the high roadTaking the high road

Netanyahu apologizes for Nairobi traffic woes

Disgruntled Kenyans take to Twitter with the hashtag #NetanyahuInKenya to vent frustration over gridlocked streets

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Nairobi residents for causing major traffic gridlocks during his visit to Kenya this week.

“I understand there is a traffic problem,” he said lightheartedly at a dinner party hosted Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday. “There is this inconvenience so I apologize to the people of Kenya who will have to wait, people of Nairobi will have to wait in line.

“And I tell you that we too have waited decades for this visit. We are glad to be here,” Netanyahu added, eliciting applause from guests.

Police on Monday and Tuesday closed several major highways as Netanyahu’s motorcade drove the capital.

Disgruntled Kenayans took to Twitter using the hashtag #NetanyahuInKenya to vent frustration — some with biblical imagery — at the chaotic traffic jams that followed the prime minister throughout the city.

Local media reported the traffic gridlocks caused by Netanyahu’s visit were the worst Nairobi had experienced during a visit from a foreign dignitary including Pope Francis and US President Barack Obama.

https://twitter.com/hoiipolloi/status/750225559653871616

Nairobi was the second stop on Netanyahu’s four-country visit to East Africa, which started Monday in Entebbe. On Wednesday he traveled to Rwanda before wrapping up his trip in Ethiopia on Thursday.

Most Popular
read more: