A single social media post on the progress of the Nairobi Expressway has gone viral triggering heated debates in a number of South African countries.
A Tweet posted by a South African strategist, Marie Joubert on Monday, April 18, lauded development projects being undertaken in the country, specifically the Nairobi Expressway.
She heaped praises on Kenyans for not moving to South Africa but instead focusing on building the country conspicuously evidenced by the 27-kilometer elevated road project running from Mlolongo to Westlands.
"You never see Kenyans running to South Africa. They quietly develop their own country," she stated.
The seven worded statement gained traction stealing the attention of many South Africans who shared their reviews on the development projects done in the country with some detailing why Kenya is far much ahead compared South Africa.
Her post further got many talking South Africans discussing how Kenya is organised with its development agenda.
One social media user from South Africa praised Kenya for how it has managed to protect its borders from foreigners contributing to its robust development.
"You need to understand the economic dimensions of East Africa. Kenya has the largest and diverse economy in that region. It's home to many refugees and asylum seekers from countries in its bloc. And we have plenty of Kenyans in South Africa working mainly the education environment," a South African Mokwena Moroka stated.
Another one stated that Kenyans has managed to flourish because of its immigration policies which he alleged are different from those being implemented in South Africa.
"You've never seen foreigners occupying Kenya ?? in huge numbers. They quietly protected their borders," another social media user posted.
Another South African even expressed his willingness to visit Kenya because of her hospitable culture and thriving economy.
"I am a South African. I think Kenyas are wonderful people. I can't wait to visit that country. I think I will enjoy it," Ntate Ratau remarked.
However, some Kenyans flocked to the same social media post with a hail of responses to refute praises made by South Africans towards the projects undertaken by President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration.
"They really don't know that beneath Nairobi Expressway we are only escaping being carried away by the floods and waterfall," one Kenya stated in regards to the unfinished drainage system.
Nairobi and Pretoria enjoy cordial diplomatic ties. The two countries depend on each other for bilateral trade. In November 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Kenyatta met in South Africa.
The two leaders rallied other African leaders to push for the fostering of peace and coexistence in conflict-ridden regions in the continent.
It is not the first time the Nairobi Expressway is getting international attention. On February 3 this year, a Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono shared the progress of the Nairobi Expressway project built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).
The award-winning journalist who owns Zimbabwe News Network hailed President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration for the construction of the 27-km road set to ease congestion in Kenya's capital.
His post ignited debate in Zimbabwe with its nationals praising Kenya and President Kenyatta for his legacy projects.
The journalist drew a comparison of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's country to Kenya where he noted that they were initially poor.
"This is what our Kenyan cousins are doing with their country. If you register to vote and actually vote, you could also help Zimbabwe get there in a very short period of time," Hopewell stated.
He added, "Remember that Kenya was our poorer cousin, today it is 5 times bigger than us."
President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to commission the highway with contractors working around the clock on the final touches.
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