The photo taken on July 24, 2015 shows a once busy main road in downtown Nairobi becoming empty ahead of Obama's arrival. (Xinhua/Njoroge Kaburo)
NAIROBI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan traders in Nairobi are already counting losses before and during the visit by U.S. President Barack Obama.
From Friday afternoon, some busy streets of Kenya's capital city Nairobi have been empty as the country is hosting the famous "son of Kenya."
Obama makes his first visit as president to his father's birthplace as he approaches the end of his second term in office.
He is here for an entrepreneurship summit and will talk with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta on trade, security and may be gay rights although Kenyatta has said it was "a non-issue."
The photo taken on July 24, 2015 shows a Banana vendor passing by closed shops along a main street in downtown Nairobi. (Xinhua/ Nyalwash)
Parts of the Kenyan capital have been locked down from Obama's arrival Friday and his departure Sunday for Ethiopia. And about 10,000 police officers have been deployed to Nairobi to ensure him a safe and sound stay in Kenya.
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.
The photo taken on July 24, 2015 shows security guards spend the day guarding closed retail shops. (Xinhua/ Nyalwash)
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.
"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.
The photo taken on July 24, 2015 shows one man passing by a closed restaurant on a main street in downtown Nairobi. (Xinhua/ Nyalwash)
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.
The photo taken on July 24, 2015 shows a poster featuring U.S. President Barack Obama on a street in downtown Nairobi. (Xinhua photo)
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.
