The Sad Story Behind An Empty Luxurious Town in Kenya .

In this Video I present to you the Most Luxurious Gated Community in Kenya , And Why it seems to be Empty for so many year now. Kenya's beautiful coast, but wonders if he has travelled to a different country.`Little Italy’ Malindi I often had to do a double-take to make sure I was in Malindi and not Palermo or Naples.
When I tried to nab an empty beach bed by a large palm tree, a waiter came running over to tell me the spot was always reserved for an Italian couple.
It has to be said that it felt very peculiar to be there as a black traveller, even one learning Italian.

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#tour #villagelife one of the town's cafés I had to raise my hand several times to be noticed - and even from Italians, usually so friendly at home, there was little warmth.

And racial politics has reared its head in Malindi, with some coastal communities feeling that Italians get a free pass given how much they own in the town.
There has even been anger at times at the impunity Italians are perceived to enjoy, with many locals believing they are not even investigated if there's crime.


The history of the Italians in Malindi goes back to the opening of the Italian-run Broglio Space Centre off Kenya's coast.

The first Italians to arrive in the town were engineers and scientists, who loved what they found. Word soon spread about Malindi's miles of pristine beaches, abundance of seafood and good-natured inhabitants.
By the 1970s the community began to take shape, with many settling in Malindi and pursuing opportunities in the tourism industry.
They opened hotels, restaurants, built beach villas and became economically integral in the town.

* First known as the San Marco Equatorial Range, it was developed in the 1960s to launch Italian and other satellites
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* Started as a partnership between the Italian Space Research Commission and Nasa


The town had its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s when tourism boomed and estimates suggest 4,000 Italians lived in the town and 30,000 visited annually.
But a shadier side to Malindi also emerged with allegations that the underage sex trade was rampant, as was the drugs trade and even whispers of the Italian mafia's presence.
Still the tropical paradise with its hint of noir flourished until a slump began with Italy's financial crash of 2008.
Then terror attacks by Somali militants started in Kenya - and the kidnapping of a foreign tourist a little further up the coast in 2011 by Somali pirates changed things.
Many Italians sold up and left, far fewer came to visit.
And it is something that Kenyans there regret, despite their occasional grumbles about Italians.
Today Malindi feels like a town that has seen better days and locals struggle to eke out a living, made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
But it is still a blissful place to relax and enjoy if you can visit, and while tucking into a delicious plate of crab linguine, I felt transported back in time if not place.

Is Malindi Safe For Tourists?
While there are confirmed cases of radical extremism reported at the coast, Malindi remains safe.
Security is airtight and the environment is conducive for business. There are numerous Italian restaurants, pizzerias, delis, and gelato stores in Malindi.
Italian tycoon Marco Vancini owns The Blue Key, Lawfords Beach Club, and the Coral Key. They are exclusive resorts and beach hotels in Malindi.
Then, there is Italian billionaire Flavio Briatore ruling tourism in Malindi.
Briatore, a former Formula One boss owns the most exclusive resorts on the Kenyan coast delivering a high-end opulent experience.
British model Naomi Campbell is one of the world celebrities who spent time at Briatore’s resorts in the last couple of years.
She spent her last holiday in Malindi at the Billionaire Resort village owned by Briatore – who she once dated.
She also spent time at the Lion in the Sun resort also owned by Briatore.
Adding on to the Italian fanfare in Malindi, Campbell purchased a luxurious villa in Malindi.

Is Malindi Worth Visiting?

00:00Intro
00:24 Location
02:00Distance
02:42 Price

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