Why African diaspora are choosing to settle in Kenya

On a warm Saturday afternoon in Kiserian area, the smell of cardamom tea wafts through the air as Carmen Wright James, a 37-year-old wellness coach originally from the Delaware in the United States of America, lays out a brunch of sukuma wiki, grits, and fried plantain.

“This is home now,” she says with a serene smile. “And it feels right. Like I’ve finally exhaled.”

Wright is among a steadily rising wave of African Americans who have found a new rhythm of life in Kenya. No longer just tourists, these expatriates are putting down roots, starting businesses, raising families, and finding healing in a land many feel spiritually and ancestrally connected to.

Her first visit to the country more than a decade ago painted a different picture, demystifying the poor, famine and war-ravaged western media constantly depict.  

“I came to visit a friend who is married here in Kenya and that is when I realized I could make a life here. The infrastructure is great and life is a bliss. I can work from home as a consultant, and Nairobi is not far from here. I also love the local culture and Kenyans are really friendly and welcoming people. I maintain a semi-off grid lifestyle and I would not trade it for anything else,” she says.

Singer Kelis Rogers is another America proud of her shift to Kenya. She has been amplifying her life in the country by flooding social media with photos of her expansive piece of land within Naivasha.

Kelis passionately praises African values, expressing her desire for her children to grow up in an African environment where, as she believes, they would be safer and more respected than in the United States.

"I look at my kids. I've got these beautiful black kids, and I put so much energy and time and money and schooling into them," she said while speaking to podcast outlet Earn Your Leisure.

According to Kelis, the children are her most valuable possession, and that she is neither worried nor bothered about them getting shot or getting arrested.

“I want to walk into a place where they're not immediately hating my bloodline and my lineage and everything that I come from and everything that I stand for, like that's worth its weight in gold to me," added the 45-year-old who was born in New York and raised in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan.

Now a resident in Kenya, she has brought along her mother, aunt and three children. Her eldest son, Knight Jones, from her previous relationship with rapper Nas, is thriving in his new environment—earning a spot on the Kenya national swimming team.

As conversations around race, belonging, and identity continue to reverberate across the globe, Kenya long known for its wildlife, athletics and resilient spirit, has quietly emerged as a homecoming destination for members of the African diaspora seeking more than just a vacation. They are seeking restoration.

For centuries, the descendants of enslaved Africans in America have carried a deep longing to return to their ancestral continent. That longing has, in recent years, transformed into action.

One of the most famous people who made this journey are founding members of the famous Black Panther in US’ Kansas City, Charlotte Hill O'Neal and her husband Pete O’Neal, moved to TZ in 1972.

The shift is as emotional as it is geographical. For many African Americans, landing in Kenya is not just a change of address, it is a symbolic act of reconnection as it is a spiritual coming home to reclaim history.

In December American and Pan- African proponent Dr Umar Ifatunde Johnson will be landing in the country, ahead of the Journey Back to Eden, an initiative by Traverse Culture, which is a travel concierge company specializing in humanitarian efforts, relocation services besides identifying investment opportunities in East Africa and Central America.

With its thriving tech sector, vibrant arts scene and cosmopolitan energy, Kenya has become a magnet for African American creatives, digital nomads and entrepreneurs.

From co-working spaces in Karen to fashion pop-ups in Lavington, Kenya’s capital is alive with new collaborations between diasporas and local talent.

“Nairobi is buzzing,” says James Masai, a Kenyan artivist based in Austria. Some of his friends have already settled in the country, preferring coastal areas like Diani, Nyali and Watamu.

“There’s this myth that moving to Africa means giving up comfort or opportunity,” he says. “But Kenya is proof you can live well, work globally, and still honour your roots.”

Swedish rapper and MMA fighter Salif David Diop first came to the country 13 years ago to visit a friend, based in Mombasa. Salif whose moniker is the First Back Viking, is also Malian but given the allure of Kenyan beaches, fell in love with the coastal enchantments and after several visits, he decided to buy a piece of land.

“Three years ago, I bought my first land in Diani and recently acquired another one. I am constructing my house and 10 apartments with a gym. I intend to have training trips where groups or individuals can come here with their personal trainers and get to enjoy the cool and relaxing environment, with a professional Kenyan chef to cater for their culinary needs,” he told The Nairobian.

He is also working with a friend who operates a tour safari company, for future business collaborations.

Salif who owns a construction and plumbing business in Sweden shares that living in Kenya is not just about himself and business, but also gives him an extra satisfaction when he is upskilling some of the people he is working with in the country.

“I try as much as possible to pass the knowledge I have on fundis especially on the western standards when it comes to construction and this is satisfying. It’s a way of giving back to the society,” he notes.

The Swedish rapper and producer Ken Ring played part in the success of the famous rap group, Kalamashaka. Salif who took some of the Kenyan artistes under his arms, including Johnny Vigetti, has been building businesses in Diani in Kwale county, where he has invested in real estate.

He has a couple of villas and a state of art recording studio, where he regularly produces music for the likes of Wyre and Vigetti.

Social media has played a powerful role in demystifying the African relocation journey. Diaspora influencers—often dubbed “repatriation pioneers”—have built massive followings by sharing tips on visas, housing, business registration, and cultural etiquette.

Some of them are Kea Wakesho Simmons, the CEO and founder of Traverse Culture and Kelis who have publicized their stays and businesses in the country.

After posting about the progress of her farm, the American R&B star popularly known for her hit song Milkshake, has attracted criticism from concerned Kenyans who claim she is encroaching on wildlife land.

She had posted on her Instagram explaining the importance of fencing the area to keep wildlife, including elephants.

“Nothing more important than a good fence. I will be farming, and this solar-powered fence will keep the crops safe. It’s all done by hand,” read the caption accompanying the video which drew harsh criticism from netizens.

While Kenya has not launched formal repatriation programmes like Ghana or Sierra Leone, the environment remains relatively open to diaspora migration. Tourist and business visas are accessible, and property ownership laws allow for long-term planning.

That said, life in Kenya is not without friction. Some African Americans experience being treated more like foreigners than returning kin, and others encounter inflated prices, complex bureaucracy, or assumptions of wealth.

“One of the frustrating encounters I have heard is on paperwork and the bureaucratic processes. For instance, as a foreigner, opening a bank account is hectic and frustrating. You might have all the required documents but still end up with no account,” Salif shares.

This has forced many individuals to use their Kenyan friends to transact and send money, which at times can be tricky because some people are dishonest.

“We want to build and invest in Africa but again, the government should make it easier and some of these services accessible,” he says.

“It’s not always kumbaya,” says Jay. “You have to come with respect, ready to listen and learn. Kenya will humble you, in the best way.”

However, there is need for caution especially with the entry of passport bros. This refers to men, primarily from Western countries, who travel to developing nations, including Kenya, with the intention of dating or marrying women from those countries.

What began as a trickle of curious visitors is becoming a slow but steady movement. While exact numbers are hard to track, local communities in Nairobi’s suburbs like Kilimani, Westlands, Runda to Lavington have seen a visible increase in African American families, freelancers, and retirees.

“This isn’t just a phase. It’s a spiritual migration. A reclaiming of self, culture, and peace. Africa isn’t just our past. It’s our future,” says Salif.