‘Vikombe za wageni’: Murkomen reacts to electric buses trolls about Summit
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has responded to jokes from a section of Kenyans who reacted to the government’s effort to impress guests and delegates who attended the just-concluded Africa Climate Summit 2023.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Murkomen said he had seen the jokes and had even been tagged in some, including one about the government’s decision to unleash a flight of electric buses on the streets of Nairobi during the Summit week.
“I saw some people joking when you saw about 10 electric buses that were being used, they were tagging me that Murkomen ‘mmetoa vikombe ya wageni.’ You know the way when visitors come to your home, they say now go and remove the clean cups so that we can serve the visitors,” Murkomen said.
“The truth is that in April, I launched several buses distributed by a company called BasiGo which already has 20 electric buses operating in Nairobi between 24 seaters to about 56 seater buses,” he explained.
According to Murkomen, there are between 2,000 and 2,500 electric motorcycles already operating in the country.
Kenyans online took note of the fact that on Monday morning the sleek electric buses appeared to have taken over the streets of Nairobi.
“Kusafisha rada wageni wakiwa area!” Hazim Fareed tweeted.
“Reminds me of vyombo za wageni back home!” @sirstevenson.
“Bado tuko Kenya kweli? Ama tumehama na hatujui?” another user wrote.
The Summit began on Sunday and concluded on Wednesday. The Summit was attended by at least 17 heads of state and more than 15,000 dignitaries and guests.
One of the Summit’s main talking points was President William Ruto’s move to drive himself around town, arriving at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in a tiny electric car.