Kenya has appointed UK supermodel Naomi Campbell its Magical Kenya International Tourism ambassador.
The appointment was made by Kenya’s Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala after a meeting with the model who likes spending her holidays in the Kenyan Coast.
According to the letter making public this development, Campbell who is reported to be owning to homes in the Kenyan Coast, has been tasked to promote Kenya as a tourism destination.
“She will help promote the marketing of Kenya as an ideal tourism and travel destination to the world,” the press release by Balala indicated.
Balala termed the news exciting but this was not the perception many Kenyans online had. The latter felt that the role should have been given to a Kenyan citizen especially athletes and local models.
“We welcome the exciting news that Naomi Campbell will advocate for tourism and travel internationally for the magical Kenya brand,†Balala said.
Nonetheless, during the meeting in which Campbell consented to take up the role, she lauded Kenya’s government for improving infrastructure at the Coast.
She specifically pointed out the upgrading of Malindi Airport to international standards which said was a boost to tourism in the region.
“I am also impressed with the world class standard facilities at the professional golf association Baobab course located in Vipingo Ridge, the only golf course accredited by the PGA in the whole of Africa.
I invite golf professionals globally to visit the course to enjoy the experience,†Campbell said.
The development ignited a divisive Twitter engagement among Kenyans with some saying, Campbell’s reputation was tainted with accusations of violence.
“Campbell has been convicted of assault on four occasions, after she was accused eleven times of committing acts of violence against employees, associates and other individuals between 1998 and 2009.
But our president was convicted in ICC too,” Berny G tweeted in reponse to the Ministry of Tourism