Police announce roads to be closed during WTO conference

Nairobi Police Commandant Japheth Koome has said that all roads around the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) will be closed starting Monday 6am until the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference ends on Friday at 6pm.

The roads that will be affected include Harambee Avenue, Parliament Road, Taifa Road, City Hall Way and Wabera Street in Nairobi’s central business district.

Koome also noted that those with businesses located along those roads would be facilitated entry after a thorough search, adding that no vehicular traffic will be permitted.

“The police are committed to ensure success of the WTO conference and all security measures have been put in place. We will get reinforcement from other counties and we shall be working together with other forces such prisons, intelligence, Kenya police, CID among others,” affirmed Koome.

Previously, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat confirmed that Nairobi was ready to host the 10th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organizations.

Speaking in Nairobi, WTO’s Deputy Director David Shark expressed his satisfaction in the preparation processes as well as commitment by the government.

An estimated 7,000 delegates are expected to attend the conference, half of whom will be foreigners, with the trickledown effect being increased revenues for the country.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is also expected to officially open the meeting that seeks to improve world trade, while developing nations seek better terms for their goods meant for export markets in the developed worlds.

The WTO was formed in 1995, taking over from the now defunct General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

As at November 13 this year, the global trade body had at least 162 members while two more countries, Liberia and Afghanistan, are expected to join the WTO conference.

Kenya is the first African country to host the meeting.

By Jemimah Gathoni