Why Nairobi is standing out for Black Americans moving to Africa
By John Otini, July 12, 2025As more Black Americans continue to relocate to Africa, Nairobi is emerging as a key hotspot, edging out Nigeria and Ghana thanks to better roads, mild weather, strong internet and amenities.
Their growing interest is quietly driving property sales, especially in Nairobi. From Atlanta to the capital’s leafy suburbs, a wave of relocations is being fuelled by dissatisfaction with the political climate, economic instability, and racial tensions in the United States—and Kenya’s real estate sector is reaping the rewards.
One such buyer is Anmarie Crawford, a Jamaican-born American citizen who has lived in Atlanta for nearly 30 years. Now, with President Donald Trump back in office and tensions running high, Crawford has had enough.
“I don’t think we are really welcome [in the US], just to work and put money in their pockets,” she said during a visit to Nairobi, where she’s finalising a home purchase.
She’s being assisted by Adila Muhammad, co-founder of a relocation service company that caters almost exclusively to African Americans.
Muhammad has helped about 15 families settle in Kenya over the past year, and interest is only growing.
She says her clients are typically middle-aged professionals or retirees, looking to escape what she describes as a hostile racial and political environment in America.
“This one will be too small. You know, in America, we’re used to big,” Muhammad remarks as she tours a potential apartment with a client. But while the properties may be smaller, the quality of life is the real draw. “We can live comfortably without all the stress, without all the racism, without all the police brutality, without all of the heavy political climate. We don’t need any of that. Our people just want to be at peace,” she says.
The Muhammeds, who documented their own move to Kenya on YouTube, have built a virtual community of nearly 200 families from the US, Canada, and Jamaica—many of whom have already migrated or are planning to.
While Ghana and Nigeria have attracted some African American migrants seeking ancestral roots linked to the transatlantic slave trade, Adila argues that anywhere in Africa can be home.
For her, Nairobi offers the best combination of infrastructure, amenities, and lifestyle.
The appeal is more than emotional. Many migrants are making pragmatic financial decisions. US pensions and savings can stretch further in Kenya, making it an attractive destination for those looking to retire or start fresh.
“Attractive apartments with gyms and swimming pools are drawing them to Kenya,” Adila notes, pointing out modern developments in Nairobi’s Kilimani, Kileleshwa, and Westlands neighbourhoods.
Maro Narcissis, a recent visitor from Chicago, toured Kenya after spending time with friends in Ghana and Nigeria. He now plans to relocate to Nairobi, citing reliable internet, better roads, and milder weather as reasons.
“It’s very moderate. It’s not too far from the beach, which I do like,” he says.
For many like Crawford, the move is also a hedge against what they see as economic decline in the United States.
She fears her property in Atlanta will lose value and hopes to sell it quickly.
“I’ve even been telling co-workers before I even get here because of what I’m seeing, and usually I said it’s time for us to all sell and go to Kenya. Let’s go,” she told Al Jazeera.
Real estate agents in Nairobi confirm the trend.
Though the numbers are still modest, Black American clients are increasingly seen touring upscale developments and closing deals—often in cash.
With local developers focusing on gated communities and apartments with Western-style amenities, the market is adapting to meet demand from this niche but growing diaspora.
The movement remains small in absolute terms, but its impact on the property sector is noticeable, especially in areas already popular with expatriates.
For now, Nairobi’s rising status as a haven for diasporan returnees and second-home seekers from North America is opening a new chapter in the city’s cosmopolitan growth—and injecting fresh energy into Kenya’s real estate economy.