The city of Nairobi has launched a “beautification”project. It is part of a major program to clean up thecity’s streets before President Obama’s visit.
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| A man takes photographs of the mall with his smartphone while he sits in a cafe at the reopened Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi July 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) |
Mr. Obama is coming to Nairobi, in part, to attend theGlobal Entrepreneurship Summit on July 25. Workersare repairing roads, planting flowers and painting somestreets. They are also installing security camerasacross the busy capital.
Leah Oyake-Ombis is the Chief Environment officer for the Nairobi City Council. She says the effort is aboutmore than just welcoming one visitor.
“I think for Nairobi and especially as concerns theenvironmental services or rather activities, you arecurrently seeing us doing at the moment, we are notspecifically or primarily doing them for the coming of theAmerican president.”
She says many of the improvement plans are not new. But the work was sped up because of the visit.
Kenya's "The Standard" reports on last minute preparations for president Obama's visitStill, the people of Nairobi do hope that the president willmake some announcements that will benefit their cityand the country.
She says Nairobi will be the starting point if the officialannouncements turn into real programs.
Nairobiis home to more than four million people. Thecity faces many difficult problems -- from congestedroads to extreme poverty. Some issues are more thanwhat a little paint can fix.
Most Kenyans know that Nairobi is chaotic, a little dirty and in need of a face-lift or major improvements. While Mr. Obama is unlikely to see large parts of the city, local residents say any improvement is a good thing.
James Onya’ncha is a Nairobi resident.
“They want to make it clean for the people who are coming to visit the countryto see it more clean. But my wish is to let them continue the way they aredoing at the moment, we need it to be clean and more beautiful he way it usedto be before.”
Jackie is a student.
“For now, they’re doing fine because they’re making the roads and everything,so I think it’s an amazing job that they’re doing.”
Not everyone is enthusiastic with this plan. Some people have said themoney spent on the visit could be used for better use.
Simon Ng’anga is a retired army officer. He blames a Nairobi official forwasting a lot of money to welcome the U.S. President. He says people needthe money to improve areas for working class people who live in poverty. Thecity administration, he adds, should give the money to these people so theycan improve the quality of their lives.
While Mr. Obama’s trip will likely be short, people in Kenya’s capital hope thebenefits will last long after he is gone.
I’m Jim Tedder.
VOA’s Gabe Joselow reported on this story from Nairobi. Triwik Kurniasariadapted it for Learning English. The editor was George Grow.
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Words in This Story
beautification– n. the act of making something more beautiful
install– v. to add or make something ready for use
benefit– v. to be useful or helpful
congested– adj. crowded
chaotic– adj. wild; a condition in which behavior and events are not controlledby anything
enthusiastic– adj. feeling strong excitement about something
