CNN top business presenter Richard Quest coated a lot of controversy during his one week visit to Kenya last week.
On Wednesday last week, the journalist wrapped Kenyans the wrong way when he commented on the extra ordinary traffic jams in Nairobi.
Quest was not impressed with the fact that policemen direct traffic along Nairobi roundabouts despite the availability of new traffic lights. In his own words, he said ‘The jams are extraordinary.’
The roundabouts have new traffic lights; which are usually switched off. Instead A policeman directs the traffic flow. The jams are extraordinary. #nairobi #kenya pic.twitter.com/qfklKJLEVY
— Richard Quest (@richardquest) October 24, 2018
Majority of Kenyans were angered by his Tweet. One engineer even tried to explain to Richard why Police man the roundabouts.
Richard, it’s manual-automation, The distance between roundabouts/lights is short, automation on timing cant work by itself i.e @ 3 mins each, It needs a more “intelligent (AI) or manual” system where time is assigned based flow demand during high traffic = Cops+ walkie-talkies. pic.twitter.com/rAYhn5K11t
— Sam Gichuru (@SamGichuru) October 24, 2018
Dear Richard Quest – On a different and lucky day, your reason for being stuck in traffic could easily have been due to our beautiful wildlife. I hope you get a chance witness this.
Enjoy! #QuestInKenya pic.twitter.com/nDvJedEzkC— K͏i͏i͏g͏e͏n͏ K. K͏o͏e͏c͏h͏ (@KiigenKoech) October 24, 2018
Some Kenyans were however not interested in diplomacy and warned and prayed that he loses his phone to famous Nairobi phone snatchers when taking another photo.
Have you ever lost your phone in unclear circumstances? Continue taking taking pics
— JUNIOR WANSON (@JuniorWanson) October 24, 2018
The new traffic lights are from china and they kept the passwords until we pay their debt. Visit again after 2050. We will have paid and they will be working by then. Thanks for visiting. Kenya is all that defines love.
— I AM spin (@jothamhimself) October 24, 2018
It seems Quest has learned his lesson and indirectly apologized to Kenyans over his traffic comment. Upon landing in New York on Monday morning, Quest was received by heavy traffic, perhaps more worse than the one he had criticized in Nairobi.
Look what I arrived home to in NY. Don’t worry #Nairobi you ain’t the only one with bad traffic! pic.twitter.com/vgwLcOnPbQ
— Richard Quest (@richardquest) October 29, 2018
He Twitted a picture of himself held up in Traffic and told Nairobians “you ain’t the only one with bad traffic!’