In a major step to reconnect the African Diaspora with Kenya, the Government of Kenya, together with Traverze Culture, an African American–owned relocation and regenerative company, has officially launched the Journey Back to Eden (JBE) Initiative.
The program is a private-sector-led effort, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, the Kenya Tourism Board, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its goal is to strengthen Kenya’s tourism sector while building lasting economic, cultural, and social bridges with diaspora communities.
At the Nairobi Serena Hotel launch, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Tourism, John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, representing the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism & Wildlife, Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH, welcomed the initiative. He described it as transformative, emphasizing that it would bring credibility and structure to the relocation and settlement process.
“Kenya is open, ready, and eager to welcome our people home,” said PS Ololtuaa.
Also in attendance was Tuua Safaris CEO Lucy Kimanzi, who praised Traverze for selecting Kenya as their preferred location. She noted that Tuua Safaris, which is partnering with Traverze on the Journey Back to Eden programme, believes the initiative will help link the African Diaspora to new opportunities on the continent while strengthening cultural reconnection.
The JBE Initiative invites African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and the global African Diaspora, including Kenyan nationals who have lived abroad, to return, invest, relocate, and build in Kenya.
According to Kea Wakesho Simmons, CEO of Traverze Culture, African Americans alone hold USD 1.6 trillion in annual spending power, alongside hundreds of billions more from the wider diaspora.
JBE aims to position Kenya as a top destination for cultural return, foreign investment, tourism, and family settlement.
The partnership integrates the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which strengthens the initiative’s credibility and ensures seamless support in healthcare, education, and financial services.
This support covers lifestyle settlement and community wellbeing, key considerations for families and investors seeking long-term roots in Kenya.
The initiative offers immersive 7- and 12-day experiences that allow participants to explore opportunities in real estate and relocation, medical tourism and wellness, investment, business development, education, and cultural heritage reconnection.
Aligned with Kenya’s strategy to deepen economic, cultural, and social ties with global diaspora communities, JBE reinforces sectors such as tourism, investment, real estate, and medical travel.
“Journey Back to Eden was created to give the diaspora not just a tour, but a pathway home. Our partnership with PDM Group elevates JBE by providing stability, clarity, and trusted infrastructure for informed decisions about relocation, housing, investment, and settlement in Kenya,” said Kea Wakesho Simmons.
About Traverze Culture
Traverze Culture is an African American–founded relocation and regenerative travel company focused on reconnecting the African Diaspora with Africa.
Through programs in tourism, real estate, medical access, investment advisory, and cultural reintegration, it provides structured pathways for healing, reconnection, and long-term settlement on the continent.
