.jpg)
US-based Kenyan philanthropist Mwangi Mukami plans to fund a cohort of 15 American residents to visit Kenya beginning June 17 for a 10-day fully-funded trip in Nairobi, Maasai Mara and Kilifi.
Mwangi Mukami says the goal is to inform, inspire and empower the next generation of American leaders to learn and care more about Africa beyond the commonplace stereotypes of Africa as a backward continent strife with hunger, ethnic strife and unemployment.
“Africa’s story is not always about epic tragedies; it is also about beauty, potential and the global opportunity in Africa’s marketplace,” Mukami says.
He adds that George Floyd’s murder and subsequent global protests in the summer of 2020 inspired him and the MLIFE Foundation to begin this programme for California’s youths.
MLIFE has coordinated self-funded trips to East and West Africa for policymakers and high-net-worth individuals in the past four years, generating more than $1 million (Sh139.1 million) in return investments.
“The new initiative enables MLIFE to ‘elevate justice, empower next generation leaders and provide a space for intercultural connectedness and healing among members of the Black Diaspora,” Mukami adds.
MLIFE will coordinate these trips twice during January and July.
The itinerary will include visits to Nairobi’s local and regional international schools and a 3-day, 2-night visit to Maasai Mara.
Before returning to the US, students will visit Mombasa to learn about Kenya’s colonial history and the Arabic and Portuguese influence.
The trip will also include opportunities to meet local leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators.
Rugged Elegance Foundation has committed financial support for three of the fifteen-member cohort.
California companies, We Are Guru and Hyphen8tion Studios also support the initiative and Qrius Pay, a non-profit payment processing company based in Canada.
The initiative could be a reflection of Kenya Tourism Board (KTB’s) strive to market the country’s tourism products to the global community through digital marketing and physical presence through in-market activities.
By leveraging platforms such as the International Tourism Bourse (ITB), an international consumer exhibition for the fields of leisure tourism and holiday travel, the country remains key in promoting her tourism globally.
According to Tourism CS Peninah Malonza, the ITB exhibition platform serves as a global tourism gateway and an opportunity for Kenya to capitalise and re-position her tourism products among global travellers.
She said the Europe market, besides the US contribute to a larger market share in arrivals.
Top five markets in the year 2022 as per the recently released tourism performance report include the United States with 209,360 visitors, Uganda (151,121), UK (131,526), Tanzania (123,836), India (83,106) and Germany with 53,498 visitors. BY THE STAR