I have been watching a lot of videos on foreigners who are visiting and settling in Kenya. From their experiences, these are some of the main reasons why Kenya is attractive to foreigners;

1. Language – In Kenya, especially in urban areas, many people understand and speak English. Foreigners conversant with English don’t need to learn a new language to communicate
2. Modern lifestyle – In Nairobi, you can almost get anything you can get anywhere else in the world. Access to global online shopping can easily make up for brands that might not be available locally
3. Friendly and welcoming population – Kenyans are generally friendly to visitors as a part of our culture. Many foreigners find this appealing since it makes integration much easier
4. Economic stability – Kenya’s economy is fairly stable with a stable exchange rate. This is important for foreigners who need a stable currency to avoid the inconveniences of ever-shifting prices
5. Low cost of living/Quality of life – foreigners from countries like the US and Europe find life in Kenya quite affordable. What a person spends on rent in those countries can cover all of their living expenses in Kenya and often leave them with change. This gives foreigners peace of mind as it allows them to slow down instead of being constantly worried about bills. Accommodation options are many and within different price points. Quality healthcare and education are also available and affordable
6. Value for money – foreigners say that Kenya gives them value for money because they get better quality than they would for the same money in other countries
7. Favourable immigration policies – Kenya has made it easy for foreigners to enter and stay in the country. All African countries, save for Somalia and Libya, can come to Kenya visa-free following recent changes in immigration procedures. The country also offers digital nomads and retirement visas, which can allow remote workers and retirees to live in the country
8. Weather – Kenya, being along the equator, has moderate weather throughout the year in most parts of the country. Besides, different localities have different weather patterns providing more choice
9. Food – foreigners, especially from the US, find food in Kenya more organic, fresh and affordable than in their country
10. Geostrategic location – Kenya is a global travel hub, which makes it easy and affordable to travel to the country. Some of the visitors prefer making Kenya their base from which they can travel to many other parts of the world
11. Political stability – Kenya is politically stable, and the rule of law is better established. Foreigners don’t have to worry about the prospects of civil strife or war
12. Safety and security – foreigners find Kenya comparatively stable. While one could be exposed to petty crime, many foreigners consider this much less of a worry compared to insecurity in some countries. While in Kenya, a thief might grab your phone, in some other country, they might not only do so but also harm you, e.g. through a gun or knife attack
13. Tourism – Kenya offers endless tourism opportunities from beaches to Safaris to Mountain climbing and everything in between. This is also attractive to content creators who have many opportunities to create great content
14. Reliable utilities – things like fast internet and reliable power make Kenya more preferable, especially when compared to other African countries
15. Extensive internet use – Kenyans are among the heaviest users of the internet in the world. Content creators who come to Kenya are more likely to get higher viewership of their content than in other countries. This is attractive to vloggers seeking to build a subscriber base
16. Business and investment opportunities – Kenya, being a regional economic hub, provides foreigners with an opportunity to invest in the country and possibly serve the region from their Nairobi base
17. Fewer filming restrictions – foreigners, especially content creators, encounter less resistance when filming content, be it from businesses or individuals
18. Infrastructure – Kenya has fairly developed infrastructure, which makes travel logistics easier. Digital infrastructure helps in online purchases and access to services such as taxis. Vast adoption of mobile money also makes transacting easy for foreigners
19. Global brands – many global brands such as popular American fast food outlets are in Kenya, e.g. Domino’s, KFC, Papa John’s, etc.
20. Multiculturalism – many cultures, either from Africa, the West or the East are available in Kenya. This makes many foreigners feel at home, and it is easier to integrate as familiar communities exist where one can readily plug in. African Americans find Kenya attractive as it allows them to live on the continent without missing much. Kenya has a diverse culture, which is attractive to those seeking adventure

Obviously, we haven’t marketed this country very well. We need to package these advantages when promoting the country since they are what visitors appreciate about Kenya. Long stays provide greater economic benefits to the country compared to short visits.

The world is changing, and we need to change with it. Visitors aren’t just after a quick fix. They want the real experience of living in a country and interacting with the populace.

New economic realities make it easier for people to work and live from anywhere in the world. We need to leverage this borderless world. Strategic and purposeful immigration can supercharge the economy even as we develop other opportunities that take longer to bear fruit.