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We’ll close early, banks tell Nairobi clients


Several banks in Nairobi will close their doors at noon Friday ahead of President Barack Obama’s arrival to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES).

CFC Stanbic Bank and Imperial Bank will only open till noon, while Standard Chartered Bank has told its clients it will close its Warwick and Westlands branches on Saturday but all other branches will remain open.

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) has not released official confirmation, however staff at the bank say arrangements have been made in some departments to release workers at 12 noon.

Equity Bank will however remain open throughout the weekend as it plans to offer services to hundreds of delegates attending the Summit.

Over 3,000 foreign delegates will be in the country besides local delegates and businessmen and Equity Bank believes its products are diverse enough to serve all of them during the meeting.

In a statement to newsrooms, Equity Bank said as the preferred partner for American Express, Visa, PayPal, MasterCard and China Union Pay, it enjoys a differentiated position to serve the delegates.

“During the events, we shall also be at hand to provide banking services and showcase Equity Group Foundation entrepreneurship and development models,” Equity Bank boss James Mwangi said.

Dr. Mwangi will speak during the GES official opening session on Saturday and also participate as a panellist in Sunday’s forum, focusing on local investment opportunities’ in agro-processing and related value addition spheres.

President Obama’s visit is expected to disrupt business for the three days he will be in the country even as State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said Friday will not be a public holiday.

Mr Esipisu said at a press conference at Harambee House in Nairobi that Mombasa Road will not be completely shut but there will be changes in traffic flow.

Nairobi City County Business Association Chairman David Gachuru says businesses in the capital are willing to make the sacrifice for the greater good of the country.

“We had enough notice to plan and make transactions in the past week. I also believe Kenya will gain strategically even though we will be inconvenienced,” he said in a telephone interview.

Meanwhile, Judiciary staff in Nairobi have been given a day off as Nairobi hosts the Summit.

A statement released by Milimani chief magistrate Daniel Ogembo stated that they will remain closed on Friday with all matters scheduled pushed to Monday.

SOURCE: Daily Nation