Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist
@mohammedhersi • 363,998 subscribers
#MROPTIMIST . Past chairman. Kenya Tourism Federation. 🇰🇪 Hotelier. John Maxwell certified Speaker, Trainer ,Coach . NB:👇 VIEWS MY OWN
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Kenya Cannot Barricade Its Way to 5 Million Tourists. Today, tourists bound for the Maasai Mara sat stranded on the roadside since 10am not because of weather, not because of wildlife, but because a community frustrated over an unrepaired road decided the fastest way to be heard was to block every vehicle trying to pass, tourist convoys included. Last week it was chaos at the airport. This week it is a highway barricade on the gateway to our most iconic reserve. Kenya cannot build a 5-million-visitor tourism economy on a foundation this unstable, one crisis after another, each one eroding the confidence of the very travellers we spent years courting. Let me be clear about where I stand. The grievance behind today's blockade may well be legitimate. Roads in rural Kenya are neglected for years, sometimes decades, and frustration builds until it boils over. Communities have every right to demand better infrastructure from their county and national governments that right is not in question. What is in question is the tactic. Blocking a public highway, indiscriminately, punishes the wrong people. It does not punish the county or national government that failed to maintain the road. It does not punish the national Treasury that starves rural infrastructure budgets. It punishes a tourist from Germany or Texas who saved for years to see the Great Migration, who is now sitting in a vehicle on the roadside with no end in sight, filming the whole thing on their phone for their followers back home. That footage does not stay in Narok. It travels the world in minutes, and it does more damage to Kenya's tourism brand than any TripAdvisor review ever could. This is not a one-off. The Narok-Mara corridor has seen this pattern repeat for years, accident disputes, land disputes, insecurity protests, each one resolved the same way: a county commissioner arrives, appeals for calm, promises "legal means" will be pursued, and the road reopens and then it happens again. Appeals without consequences are not a strategy. They are a pause button. If Kenya is serious about hitting 5 million visitors, two things need to happen. ✅️1. First, county and national government must treat the reliability of tourist corridors as critical infrastructure, on par with the reserve itself. The Nairobi-Narok-Mara route is not just a road. It is the delivery mechanism for one of our largest foreign exchange earners. It should be maintained, monitored, and protected accordingly, not left to decay until residents feel a barricade is their only recourse. ✅️2. Second, there has to be a fast, credible grievance channel for communities along these corridors, one that does not require burning tyres to get a government official's attention. If the only way a community's road complaint gets addressed is by shutting the highway down, we have built a system that rewards disruption and punishes patience. That incentive structure needs to change. Kenya is not competing against itself. We are competing against Tanzania, against South Africa, against every destination offering the same wildlife spectacle without the same operational chaos. Every stranded convoy, every viral video of tourists baking in the sun on a blocked highway, is a gift to our competitors and a tax on everyone in this industry who has spent years building Kenya's reputation one satisfied guest at a time. I remain convinced Kenya has what it takes to hit 5 million visitors. We have the wildlife, the coastline, the culture, and the people. But belief in the destination has to be matched by discipline in how we run it. A country cannot ask the world to trust it with their holiday and then leave that holiday hostage to whichever grievance is loudest that morning. As always, I choose to remain an optimist but optimism without accountability is just wishful thinking, and today, on that roadside outside Narok, wishful thinking is exactly what is getting tested. Very frustrating Mohammed Hersi
Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist349,623 Aufrufe • vor 17 Tagen
South Africa Is Playing With Fire Boardrooms are now battlegrounds. Activists are marching into corporate offices across South Africa demanding that "foreigners" pack up and leave. President Cyril Ramaphosa Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 this cannot stand and here's why it's not just wrong, it's dangerously short-sighted. Please ask yourself does South Africa know how deeply it is embedded in the rest of this continent? ✅️1. MTN carries hundreds of millions of subscribers across Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire, and beyond a South African company thriving on African soil that isn't its own. MTN South Africa ✅️2. Absa now earns nearly a third of its group profit from outside South Africa — Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania and is still acquiring more African banks as we speak. Absa Group ✅️3.Standard Bank remains the continent's largest bank by assets, moving trillions of rand through African economies every single year. Standard Bank ZA ✅️4. MultiChoice/DStv has for decades been the dominant gatekeeper of entertainment and information across dozens of African households. ✅️5. Sanlam and Old Mutual manage insurance and pension savings for millions of East and West Africans. ✅️6. Nandos, Steers, and Debonairs feed households across Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, and Uganda. ✅️7. Bidvest and Imperial Logistics run supply chains that keep goods moving through multiple African economies. ✅8. ️Then there's tourism an industry South Africa depends on heavily, and where the hypocrisy cuts sharpest. Hospitality groups like Tsogo Sun, City Lodge, and Sun International have expanded into Zambia, Nigeria, and beyond. South African Airways, Airlink, and a web of SA-based travel companies have spent decades marketing Cape Town, Kruger, and the Garden Route to the rest of the continent and Africans have answered in huge numbers. Kenyans, Nigerians, Ghanaians, and others fill Sandton hotels, Table Mountain cable cars, and Kruger safari lodges every year, injecting real foreign currency into the South African economy. So which is it? Do you want African wallets in your tills and African bodies in your hotel beds, but not African faces in your boardrooms? Now imagine just for a moment Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, or Ghana adopting the same logic. Boardrooms in Lagos or Nairobi staging walk-ins demanding MTN executives leave, Absa hand back its banking licenses, or Kenyan immigration quietly discouraging South African tourists from checking into Mombasa or Diani hotels. The fallout for South Africa would be instant and brutal and tourism, banking, and telecoms would be the first casualties, not the last. This is the essence of glass houses and stones. You cannot build a continental empire in banking, telecoms, insurance, and tourism, and then slam the door on that same continent's citizens the moment it's convenient at home. It's worth remembering South Africa's most celebrated exports thrive precisely because other nations didn't gatekeep opportunity by passport. Trevor Noah built a global career from a studio in New York. Elon Musk, born in Pretoria, built his fortune in Silicon Valley and Texas. Both benefited from economies that judged them on merit, not nationality. Trevor Noah Elon Musk If Africa responds to South Africa's boardroom nativism with mirrored nativism, no one wins least of all South Africans working, investing, and building across this continent. Mr. President, this is a fire worth putting out before it spreads. As always, I choose to remain an optimist. Mohammed Hersi A true African patriot at heart
Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist334,026 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
Africa is full of surpsises Ugandan police arrested a man for witchcraft, took him to court, and he responded by inviting bees to the court. Everyone was attacked by the bees. He didn’t get a single sting. Interesting to see a man running around with a fire 🔥 extinguisher. Earth is hard , best such guys are left in peace.
Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist570,488 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
Your Excellency William Samoei Ruto William Samoei Ruto, PhD Today I want you to address the opulence of your office, not that your predecessors were any better. I must, however, give credit to Kibaki; even when he came to Msa, you hardly noticed he was around at the state house. Hangabouts were very disappointed. Mama Lucy was clear: Mzee anapumzika, may their souls rest in peace. As you relax this Sunday, think hard about the sheer waste generated by your motorcade in a country where the majority live on less than a dollar a day. While some in this convoy are not necessarily part of the OP, they are the hangabouts, including CS's and even parastatal heads who want to tag along. This is what is upsetting Kenyans and is akin to vomiting on their bare feet, not even their shoes. Your excellency, you still have time to bring this to an immediate stop, and in the process, you will help in achieving the much-sought-after austerity measures. Some would say, Wait a minute, our President must have protection. Yes, 100%, but more is not necessarily better protection. I don't think you face a higher risk than your counterpart in SA or, even worse, Rwanda, surrounded by unfriendly neighbours. Look at UK PM Entrouge. We are always at their doorstep with a begging bowl, but we are busy zooming around in top-end full-guzzlers. Your excellency You need to do things differently, and Gen Zs would love you, but you are using the same old template. Get rid of this opulence, and you'll be shocked by the budget surplus that will come your way. Think hard about this and get lean on how you run this country. Enjoy your weekend, and as always, I choose to remain an optimist.
Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist385,564 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren
To my fellow Africans please don't bother to migrate and reside in South Africa unless you are part of a multinational or you are residing there in upmarket neighborhood as a second or even third home. I would like to enlighten some of these young Sat Africans. Kenya we are home to very many refugees be it Congo DRC, Somalia , South Sudan, Ethiopia if anything at one time we were surrounded by unstable countries except Tanzania. Never have we ever attacked anyone based on their nationality. These young black South Africans suffer from a serious scarcity mentality. I want to tell them , the Ethiopian or Nigerian will be gone but I want to assure them that they will still be hungry and even worse angry. Just because they are gone does not mean that their life will change for the better or own the business they run. Uganda under dictator Idi Amin expelled all Asians and we know what happened. Well they all moved on to UK, Canada and some crossed to Kenya where they all started afresh. I only came to know recently that one of my favorite authors Robin Sharma is originally from Uganda when his parents were forced to leave Uganda. What a gem Uganda lost but again everything happens for a reason. Rest of the world welcome refugees and give them a second chance in life. Many Somalis and Ethiopians including many South Sudanese who have made it in USA, UK, Canada , EU , Australia et al at one time called Kenya home and even now they still come back to visit holding passports of their adopted countries. My fellow Kenyans one thing for certain we are NOT selfish and we are always welcoming and that is one virtue that separates us from the rest of Africa. Please hold your head high as a proud Kenyan. I also challenge leadership of all these countries, please fix your nation so that your young men and women can see hope and vision. Give them a reason to stay at home and spare them such humiliation like in SA. Many have paid the ultimate price and the man in this video has made it clear you must leave by January 2024. Please don't wait to be a statistic. In business news we are always told about the double digit of economic growth of these very countries with highest number of young men and women who all want to exit , as Africans we must hang our head in shame when young men and women risk it all to cross the Sahara desert and Libya including the Mediterranean seas searching for a better life in Europe. I am challenging Ethiopia who suffer the highest brunt in South Africa. Why are young men and women from Ethiopia insisting to travel to South Africa? We see them everyday trying to cross Moyale border and they claim they are headed to South Africa. Of what use is your double digit growth if you cannot retain your young people who end up getting humiliated like what you see in this video? Let me call out our northern neighbour , Ethiopia you run the most successful airline in Africa, you run some of the most successful export processing zones , amazing leather industry, great athletes competing alongside Kenyans for honors in leading cities around the world .I ask why are your young men women risking it all in down south ? I recently watched a documentary how these young men and women are traveling all the way to Guatemala in South America then attempting to cross to USA. It saddens me a great as an African when I see such. For south Africa Nelson Mandela a man with a big heart must be turning in his grave. I weep for Sat Africa😭😭😭 The immigrants will one day go away but you need to work to improve your life. There is never free things in life . It is said you cannot talk about the weather if you remain in bed. As always I choose to remain an optimist
Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist346,107 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren
1/2 I have been asked to give my views about the comments made by H.E Deputy President that hotels in Mombasa and Mara are fully booked and I comment as follows. Firstly 2023 has been a phenomenal when it comes to international arrivals . The growth post covid has been amazing. Several factors come to play. ✅️1. We had smooth elections, Kenyas tourism is always affected by election year more so when we misbehaved ourselves in 2007 almost destroying our nation . Sadly negative vibes is what easily remembered and reference is always made on same. I always remind international agents and reporters that we have had 2013 and 2017 and recently also 2022 smooth elections. ✅️2. Open skies is happening faster in this regime than any regime we have had. Emirates getting more frequencies into Nbi was a nightmare they now have their second flight and soon maybe even 3rd flight per day Qatar likewise . South Africa did the same totally opened their skies. Etihad is also resuming Nbi flights so is Indigo from India that is now serving Mumbai Nbi and many more other flights. ✅️3. Charters into Mombasa have been facilitated and we now have charters from Italy, Poland and many other emerging sources markets like Romania, Bulgaria et al. Open skies for Mombasa is also happening albeit slowly but good news is that Eurowings now have 5 flights a week from 2. The other good news is that a charter flight Condor was allowed with ease to convert to scheduled flights without unnecessary red tape . Ethiopian is now flying twice daily into Mombasa giving us 14 flights a week. From January Fly Dubai will also commence Dubai Msa flight keep in mind new goverment also started KQ Msa Dubai flight. We are also certain that Qatar & Turkish will happen soon. KLM flying to Mombasa were denied a license last minute in Dec 2021. We need KLM to fly into Mombasa and that will surely Make Mombasa a proper international airport. Is it true that hotels are fully booked ? 🤔🤔🤔 Well in my corporate governance classes I always say that goverments world over struggle to sell themselves and when they do trust levels are always low hence doubts are cast and ours is not any different. December is always a busy month but as I pointed out as above 2023 arrivals has been phenomenal and we hope and pray that the trend continues. Kenya coast we have been busy since August with both domestic and international I am however well aware Malindi is struggling but we are making efforts to help Malindi as KCTA with Kilifi County government. Various reasons why we are busy . ✅️1. Allowing more flights. ( we need even more and rest assured KQ will also do well) there is enough for everyone. Low budget airlines. It's also good news when we now have Uganda Airlines flying direct to Entebbe from Mombasa. Jambojet direct to Kisumu from Mombasa and again Jambojet direct to Zanzibar and of course SGR. ✅️2. The depreciation of Ksh has helped retain Kenyans at home. Airfares and hotels stays abroad are all in $$$ yet our currency has lost close to 35% against other hard currencies this year. Naturally it's cheaper to holiday at home. ✅️3. Good security in tourist zones hence no more negative travel advisories that harm a destination. Our new government has maintained excellent warm relationship with the western world more so UK. USA & EU . They won't do anything that would a hurt a genuine friend. There is a reason why King Charles and Queen Camilla chose to visit Kenya first as opposed to sat Australia or New Zealand or South Africa. ✅️4. Revenge tourism after covid. Many people just realized that a small virus can take you down hence many opted to see the world and live for the day hence term Revenge Tourism was coined and Kenya happened to be on the bucket list for many around the world.
Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist322,666 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren
Trucks making nonsense of the new bypass in Mombasa. Let me make it clear .....we will never have enough roads to accommodate all trucks at one go. Era of technology, go to the port only when your cargo is ready. Cargo for Uganda , Sudan +++ ought to be collected from Naivasha . 1. It will decongest Mombasa 2. It will decongest already narrow Mombasa Nairobi highway in turn accident reduction Its good news that South Sudan are going to use Naivasha same should apply to Uganda , Rwanda, DRC. Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir Davis Chirchir, EGH Mombasa County Kenya Revenue Authority Mustafa Ramadhan
Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist59,139 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten
Tanzania, just like Kenya, is a sovereign state. They decide who can be allowed entry; even Kenya does that . You have no business to force yourself if you ain't wanted . We apply for a visa, be it for the USA , the UK, Schengen, et al and the majority of us get rejected, and you walk away silently to lick your wounds. Tanzanians are wired differently, and that is who they are. Please dont get me wrong opposition leader Tundu Lisu deserves a fair hearing; if anything, there is even no case in the first place. To be fair to President Samia Suluhu, she asked him to return from exile, including many others who had taken off during JPM's leadership. Tundu Lissu is a special man; this man was shot 17 times, and he survived, so his current tribulation is nothing. He will get over it. As Kenyans, do we have any right to bully or even harass the leadership of Tanzania? We have no business doing that. Tanzanians are at liberty to speak up for themselves, so going to jam their courts will not add any value to Tundu Lissu's case. The fact that we can do or say anything we want in Kenya does not mean that we can export that activism across the border. Aha we care so much about democracy at our neighbours? 🤔How about heading to Juba and fighting for Riek Machar as well ? 🤔What about heading to Addis to advocate for the Amharas, Tigreys or Oromos? 🤔What about going to face M7? My fellow Kenyans, we have enough on our plate. We should mind our business as time ticks towards 2027. Yetu enyewe imetushinda .....but Mama Suluhu has no business to say that we have destroyed our Kenya. Hapo amekuja sana.
Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist99,856 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
Bro we did this with ease in Taita without breaking the bank. Northern Kenya Governors can easily set-up such simple dams across seasonal rivers . Forget about the useless water pans. If we could do it in our small way what about when you have billions at your disposal . Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC FCPA Billow Kerrow we must demand accountability from these leaders .
Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist49,119 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten