• Investment begins at home, duo says to those working abroad and making money
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
Where I come from in Malindi I grew up knowing tourism business is only associated with foreigners.
Since the 90s, when the Italian market was at its peak, locals would only be directors to represent the foreigners, but very few could own resorts.
There are wealthy Kenyans who are now taking the risk and I hail them for this venture.
One of the lessons Covid-19 has taught us is that one cannot run away from home. Many foreigners left their investments and went back home for safety.
Good thing some Kenyans who were living in the diaspora are also beginning to come home and invest.
I met Lydia Mutahi and her sister Marian Mutahi who have been in USA and Italy for 15 years and 20 years respectively.
The two sisters chose to settle in Malindi and will be using their connections abroad to bring guests to tour in Malindi.
The Mutahis say this is the right place for investment. To them, anyone working abroad and has made some money for investment should come and venture into the tourism sector.
When you go round Malindi, anyone travelling here is a witness, many properties in the prime areas have been put on sale.
This means foreigners, particularly the Italians who call this place a second home, are slowly exiting the destination.
Whether they are moving away or not, there is a chance for people to invest now, particularly Kenyans.
Kudos to the Mutahis and the many others who have already made a move, and I believe soon the tourism sector will be run and manned by locals.
This story first appeared on the digital magazine Star Sasa, accessible on Sundays for Sh10 by dialling *550*3#
Edited by T Jalio