We have been shouting about the new opportunities for African American entrepreneurs in Kenya.  The time has come for us to put together an effective model that will ensure success in this up and coming nation and also be used as a model for the rest of the African Diaspora.  My office has been pleading with the officials of Kenya to identify and secure some success stories so that our members who have expressed sincere interest will know that this is just more than “show”.  Thus, last week became an analytical test for us.  We were once again off to beautiful Kenya and must return with concrete plans for implementation.

Our first move turned out to be a winner.  We had decided to spend every penny of the trip with principles of the African Diaspora.  Therefore, we chose Ethiopian Airways as our mode of travel.  It was brilliant.  We flew directly from Washington Dulles Airport to the capital of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  From there we would connect to Mombasa, Kenya where our meetings would be held.  The price was quite reasonable as there isn’t a bad seat on their Boeing wide body 777’s and their video consoles are high tech.  Their economy class is no less than economy plus with the US and European airlines.  The planes are spotless, cuisine abundant and excellent and that is just the beginning.  Ethiopian Airlines has the most beautiful airline attendants in the world.  These sisters move with a swagger of runway models replete with genuine smiles and the prettiest faces known to mankind.  It was just breathtaking.  On our way back as we waited for our connection in Addis Ababa, the crew of 12 Nubian sisters accompanied by three attractive male pilots entered the gate area.  Every brother in the place was in awe.  Suddenly, one of the smiling sisters exhorted, “Hello fellas!  We are here and will see you on the plane.”  We highly recommend Ethiopian Airlines whenever and wherever possible.

The ribbons and bows were on the front and back travel.  Now to the programs that were discussed and agreed to.  The NBCC will create a holding company.  Within that holding company our members who desire to do business in Kenya will create subsidiaries of their core specialties and register them as Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s).  This will cut the risk from their mainstay US interests. Then they will get listed on the newly formed Kenyan SME stock exchange.  Kenyan professionals will be encouraged to buy shares in these ventures.  As these businesses grow with contracts they will train and develop protégé’s that will change the paradigm for the nation.  Once successful, we will take the model to Botswana and then to other nations who are eager to participate and have similar stock exchanges.

Now, what are the types of projects?  We will focus on the Indian Ocean Coastline of Kenya.  There are seven counties in this region – from Lamu to Mombasa.  It is a hidden treasure waiting to be developed.  Imagine the Atlantic coastline of Florida under-developed.  This is it!  In Mombasa, population just under one million people, the officials want us to build and operate three major office complexes accompanied by three multi-story parking facilities (like in Washington, DC).  Also, they want a full service waste management system to serve the city.  The airport is in need of a five star hotel.

In Kalifi County, they have a college with plans to expand it into a major university.  They want us to do all of the expansion (dorms, classrooms, laboratories, streets, medical school, etc.  While doing this, they want to emulate Tuskegee Institute (Booker T. Washington) via interning their construction management, engineering, agri-business and students of other curriculums in the process.  In fact, they want a sister relationship with a US HBCU. They want this relationship to be a formal, written agreement with the NBCC.  We are ready!

There are plans for several dams in the area and significant irrigation systems for farming, energy and potable water.  Precious minerals have already been identified and will be mined.  Also, they want us to develop a fishery industry.  This blessed area is abundant in ocean fishing but they haven’t begun to harvest and process the natural resources.  Fishing trawlers, cold storage and processing facilities need to be built and managed. Also, and very important, is the budgeting for many subdivisions of affordable housing throughout the region.  These two and three bedroom homes will be retailed below $30,000 (land is free). This is just the beginning.

If we do this right, it will be a model to emulate worldwide.  The Prime Minister was most convincing when he spoke to us.  They are depending on us and we are so honored.  This is the opportunity we have been looking for - an alternative to the cut and grind of US government low bid contracting and a few scraps from major corporations.  A nation of forty million people resolved to a new constitution, transparency and an obligation to its future.  They ask us to step up and we will.  God is great!