Kenya plans fair in US to woo visitors

Politics and policy

Culture and Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario: We intend to clean up the stereotypes that have been mostly created by the international media about Kenya. FILE 

By AGGREY MUTAMBO, amutambo@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Country to exhibit artefacts in major museums to catch the eye of would be tourists.
• Top on the list will be use of the nation as the cradle of mankind, home to endangered wildlife, world beaters in athletics and rugby.
• Others will be Kenya’s host to key landmarks, famous traditional costumes and ornaments, children’s games like kati and innovations like Safaricom’s M-Pesa and Mshwari.

Kenya is planning a multi-million shilling exhibition in one of America’s prominent museums to lure more US tourists to the country.

Known as Kenya Poa, the fair at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, will run for two weeks from June 24 to July 7 showcasing culture and history, sports prowess, technological innovations and environmental conservation.

“This exhibition will be on a credible platform. We intend to clean up the stereotypes that have been mostly created by the international media about Kenya,” Culture and Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario said.

The event will conclude with an investment conference in Washington DC. The show will be about presenting historical, cultural and habitat information to the American public.

“We also hope to generate interest in cultural tourism; to create interest in human origin and tell the world that Kenya is possibly their ancestral land.”

Top on the list will be use of the nation as the cradle of mankind, home to endangered wildlife, world beaters in athletics and rugby.

Others will be Kenya’s host to key landmarks, famous traditional costumes and ornaments, children’s games like kati, innovations like Safaricom’s M-Pesa and Mshwari, and Kenya’s chama will feature.

Organisers also hope to bring to the attention of the world the problem of poaching by displaying a 20-tonne carving with a theme of hands-off our elephants.

“It is envisaged that Kenya’s visibility will be increased making it the top-of-mind choice for investors and tourists,” a brochure for the event says.