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Malindi’s love-hate affair with Italians
A supermarket specifically for the Italian community, on the Malindi-Lamu road opposite Malindi Casino, and inset, Mr Roberto Macri, the Italian consul in Malindi. Photos/ DANIEL NYASSY
Posted Tuesday, May 25 2010 at 21:00
In Summary
- Investors attracted by wonderful climate and friendly, welcoming people
The investments have acted as catalysts for other businesses in Malindi and surrounding villages, attracting Kenyans and other foreigners.
Malindi almost entirely depends on tourism dominated by the Italian clientele. About 10,000 Kenyans feeding about 70,000 mouths are been employed in the sector.
“Unlike the other Europeans, the Italian came to invest and make life better for the locals,” said one Italian, Mr Ricardo Renzo.
The launch of the Sac Marco Space and monitoring project in Ngomeni in the 1970s also helped to get Italians to Malindi. One of them, Mr Franco Esposito (alias Kasoso wa Baya), even became a Kenyan and vied for the Magarini parliamentary seat in 1997, and came close to winning.
A recent disbursement of Sh260 million has transformed the fishing village of Ngomeni to a modern one.
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