Kajiado – An early morning road mishap on the Namanga-Nairobi Road resulted in the death of two individuals. The accident involved a 14-seater matatu and a lorry. The incident occurred when the matatu, heading towards Nairobi, attempted to overtake the lorry, which was immobilized in the middle of the road.
According to Kenya News Agency, the accident appears to have been caused by a misjudgment on the part of the matatu driver. The area of the road where the accident occurred is known for its steepness, which may have contributed to the collision. Manyasi noted that the lorry’s breakdown in the road played a significant role in the incident.
In the aftermath of the crash, two unidentified individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. Other passengers, who sustained major injuries, were transported to Succos and Shalom hospitals by bystanders. The police are currently working to ascertain the total number of injured passengers to ensure all those aboard the matatu are accounted for.
With schools reopening tomorrow, Manyasi emphasized the importance of road safety, particularly during the back-to-school rush. He urged all drivers, including those of matatus, trailers, lorries, bodabodas, and private vehicles, to exercise caution to prevent further tragedies, especially involving school-going children.
Authorities have moved the bodies of the deceased to Shalom Hospital Mortuary for identification and further procedures.
Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenyan government, in a groundbreaking move, has unveiled a plan aimed at tapping into the substantial African-American tourism market. This initiative, launched in Nairobi last week, anticipates drawing a significant number of visitors from the United States, specifically targeting African-Americans.
According to Kenya News Agency, who spearheaded this initiative, the ‘call to action’ plan is designed to foster a connection between African Americans and their African cultural heritage. This is to be achieved through immersive experiences such as naming ceremonies and cultural adoption. Ms. Simmons, hailing from Charleston, South Carolina, has articulated a vision of bringing between 3000 and 5000 visitors in 2024 to tour and invest in Kenya, and potentially settle in the newly established Gitu Freedom Estate in Thika, Kiambu County.
The estate, located 60 kilometers north of Nairobi, is intended to offer a modern African living experience, catering to both African American returnees and local Kenyans. The project, leveraging the ancestry link dating back approximately 700 years, aims for completion within the next five years and will feature various modern amenities like schools, hospitals, and shopping malls.
During a recent guided tour of Mombasa Old Town with a group of African Americans, Ms. Simmons highlighted the potential impact of the initiative on Kenya’s tourism and travel market. The group, including American tourists and investors like Mr. Michael Wright, Mr. Troy Batiste, and Ms. Tecia Liocola, expressed keen interest in investing in various sectors of the Kenyan economy, including real estate and hospitality. Mr. Wright, in particular, noted his intention to expand his manufacturing and export-import business in Kenya, citing favorable investment conditions and welcoming locals.
The 12-day visit encompassed tours to notable Kenyan locations such as Diani Beach, Nairobi National Park, and the Nubian community in Kibra. Additionally, Traverze Culture organized a call-to-action conference and the Noir Fashion Week at Nairobi’s Holiday Inn Hotel at Two Rivers, showcasing African-themed designs from both Kenya and the US Diaspora.
This ambitious plan aligns with the Kenyan government’s broader strategy to engage the middle-class African-American market. US official statistics reveal that the black community, numbering over 40 million people, represents about 13% of the total US population. Wells Fargo’s research indicates a significant increase in the average net worth of black households in 2023, further underlining the potential of this market segment.
Kenya’s North American Trade and Tourism plan seeks to increase American tourist numbers to over one million by 2027. In 2022, Americans accounted for 200,000 of the 1.4 million tourists in Kenya. Ms. Simmons, who has been in Kenya for 12 years, advocates for more state incentives to support this initiative and triple African American visits by 2027.
Traverze Culture, a leading US-based tour, cultural, and travel company, specializes in assisting the black community in visiting and settling in Africa, particularly East Africa. Ms. Simmons, with her extensive experience in the US Army and as a Civilian contractor in Afghanistan, is a prominent figure in this market.
