Kenya is marketed globally as a luxury destination. Its wildlife, beaches, landscape and even hotels and restaurants draw lots of visitors from across the world.

But for many Kenyans, enjoying some of these spaces feels almost impossible. It is either they are too expensive or way out of our calibre. Why? Because they are mostly reserved for the tourists coming from outside.

Let’s not even begin from far and start with Kenya’s very own capital, Nairobi. Some Kenyan diners have openly spoken about facing racism in restaurants and entertainment joints. For some, it was facing harsh ill-treatment, including being physically assaulted by club and hotel staff. But for most, it is the subtle discrimination in upscale restaurants that cuts deeper. Being ignored, being given a dirty look, slower service, less engagement or the quiet assumption that they may not belong are some of the unfortunate experiences they have had.

I have experienced such myself. My friends and I went to this popular place in Nairobi, and as I keenly observed, I noticed the whites were warmly welcomed, the guards even smiled and they were let in with no questions asked. But as for us, the blacks, the smile quickly turned into a stone face, and we were frisked like we were some armed men planning to execute a heist. But even as I was let In, I kept asking myself why we were treated differently from the whites in our own country.

It’s been two years since that day, and that moment remains fresh in mind. And it does not stop there. The same treatment follows Kenyans to hotels, resorts and tourist attraction sites. You walk into a space as a paying customer, but you are treated as an outsider. Staff are quick to attend to foreigners, while locals are left waiting, almost as if their presence matters less. The irony is painful. In a country we call home, we are constantly made to feel like we do not belong.

This creates an unspoken barrier. Many Kenyans have simply chosen to avoid these places altogether because they refuse to subject themselves to humiliation. Others go in already prepared for the cold stares and dismissive attitudes, normalising an experience that should never be normal.

Why should one be judged because of the colour of their skin anyway? It is just skin, for heaven’s sake.

There is a false narrative that makes people think that just because one has black skin, they are deemed poor, unable to afford a certain lifestyle, and, therefore, deserving of ill treatment. Meanwhile, someone with white skin is automatically perceived as wealthy and deserving of special treatment. That is not the case, and that narrative needs to stop.

Kenya is not just a destination for visitors; it is home to millions of people who deserve to enjoy its beauty and services without discrimination. The hospitality industry, in particular, must confront this reality and do better. Because at its core, hospitality should mean welcoming everyone, not profiling them.

I believe in equality for all, and I would say we deserve better. A better standard that does not discriminate based on race, perception or social class.

Because at the end of the day, no Kenyan should feel like a foreigner in their own land.