For most Nairobi residents, the traffic snarl-up on most of the highways can be agonising and disheartening as they spend hours moving from one part of the city to the other.
However, there are those who get excited by how the traffic flows with ease in the Kenyan capital. During her maiden visit to Kenya, the mother of the Colombian President, Juliana Tono, could not hide her excitement at how traffic was easily flowing in Nairobi.
In a statement released by the Office of the First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta, after meeting the visiting dignitary on Tuesday, February 8, Tono was amazed by the ease at which she would move around and the management of traffic within the Nairobi Metropolis.
She stated that the traffic, which is considered a menace by most Kenyans, was much better than what they experience in Colombia.
“The traffic jams in Kenya are nothing compared to Colombia because in Colombia one can spend about two hours to reach a short distance,” she stated.
Additionally, she noted the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system project that is being undertaken by the government will revolutionise the transport system in the country, citing a similar project in her South American nation.
“Tono stated that Kenya and Colombia have a lot to learn and gain from each other in the fields of culture, environmental conservation, trade, agriculture, city transport systems, and health.
"However, she noted that the BRT system in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, provides residents with efficient and safe mass transportation that Kenya can emulate," read the statement in part.
During her visit, Tono offered to promote Kenya's tourist sites after visiting the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
"Tono, who was in the country on a maiden visit of Africa and Kenya, toured various tourist attractions in the country among them the globally renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve in Narok County," added the statement.
Further, she praised the First Lady for her industrious efforts in promoting healthcare in the country through her Beyond Zero campaign.
“I read about you and I love it. This is great work that you are doing and we want to come and talk about it,” she stated.
Tono is the mother of President Iván Duque Márquez who was elected as Colombia's Head of State in 2018.
