Feature: Businesses count losses in Kenyan capital ahead of Obama visit

Kenyan traders in Nairobi are already counting losses ahead of the visit by U.S. president Barack Obama on Friday for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES).

Even though Kenya has not declared Friday a public holiday, all the indicators of festival mania are evident.

Public transport vehicles, popularly known as "matatus," which start ferrying the 4 million-strong population of Nairobi at daybreak, were idly parked on bus terminals because of lack of passengers to transport.

"I am making my second and last trip before I park the vehicle to wait for the evening peak hour workers who provide essential services to the people of Nairobi," Paul Mutua, a matatus driver told Xinhua.

With Nairobi having become a pale shadow of its usual self, and little traffic to control, idle traffic policemen were chatting their day away.

Several traders complained of little or no business as most workers stayed away from work to avoid inconveniences.

The courts, banks, schools and other businesses were shut after the government announced some key roads will be closed to provide way for Obama due in Nairobi on Friday evening.

"I opened my cafe as usual in the morning and the number of customers who have stepped in my shop can be counted on my fingers," Jane Nduta told Xinhua in downtown Nairobi.

"Munene (the big man, in reference to Obama) has not even arrived in Nairobi and look at the atmosphere around. How will it be when he arrives later in the day?" she posed.

Most constructions within the central business district also withheld their services, with many workers at building sites forced to return home with instructions that they should report on Monday.

"We depend of the wages we are paid daily in order to put food on the table. This weekend will be one of my longest in recent times because for me it has always been a hand-to-mouth affair," said a cement worker, Martin Omukolo.

The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), an umbrella body of employers, also expressed concern over uncertainty in accessing some of the premises during Obama's visit.

FKE Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo called on the government to provide clear indications on the exact parts of Nairobi that will be inaccessible and at what times.

"Whereas we understand that details of the visit should be kept under wraps for security reasons, as employers we ask to be provided with clarity and alternatives to ensure business goes on smoothly as usual," Mugo said. Endit