“I am so happy to be here. I am thrilled. Trust me,” visiting Hollywood star Nicole Murphy beamed as she donned a colourful Maasai ceremonial outfit – usually reserved for the best occasion, at the JW Marriott hotel in Westlands, Nairobi yesterday.
She couldn’t stop smiling as Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Rebecca Miano and Kenya Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer; June Chepkemei helped her to fit the beaded headgear, necklace and bracelets.
“This is wonderful. I love it,” Nicole, who arrived in the country at the weekend, said shaking with excitement. With one million followers on Instagram, and many more on other social media platforms such as Tik Tok, X formerly Twitter, Nicole assured Kenyans she will use her social networks to market the country’s tourism potential.
“I had a different picture of this country,” she said. Initially she thought Kenya was all about bad things such as pot-bellied children, wearing tattered clothes with flies all over their faces, but this changed one day. She visited the Kenyan embassy in Washington DC and what she saw made her long for a tour of the country.
“This trip is about more than just safaris and beaches – it’s a pilgrimage and a chance to reconnect with the roots,” she said, showing the urge to know more about this country.
“Kenyans are very hospitable, and I want to give my experiences to everybody across the world to come to Kenya. I want to showcase the real Kenya beyond the stereotypes – its incredible natural beauty, great people and rich cultural heritage,” Nicole added, expressing her excitement at the prospect of experiencing the beauty of Kenya’s landscapes and culture.
She is leading a high-profile delegation of Hollywood stars and guests who are in the country as personal guests of Kenyan-born award-winning filmmaker/artiste Lovince McKenzie, an award-winning filmmaker.
The star-studded group had an engagement session with the Tourism Ministry ahead of their whirlwind tour of various destinations, likely to kick off at the Maasai Mara and cruise through the Coastal beaches.
And yesterday, Miano stated that Kenya has seen rapid rising interest from the potential visitors who are now keen to engage in what the country has to offer, and welcomed more partnerships to help rebuild the tourism industry.
“The presence of Nicole Murphy in our country signifies a pivotal moment in our journey towards becoming a renowned hub tourism destination that attracts all segments of travellers. Nicole is renowned in the US entertainment scene and her influence in the industry is immeasurable.
“We are keen on working with such influential figures to showcase what Kenya has to offer as a prime destination for creatives worldwide,” she said.
