American R&B star Kelis has opened up about some of the challenges she has faced while living in Kenya, noting that while the country is beautiful and among the best in Africa, life there comes with its share of difficulties.

In a video shared on her Instagram on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the Milkshake hitmaker listed several issues that she believes newcomers, especially those from the diaspora, should be aware of before settling in Kenya.

“The roads, some of the potholes will literally take your car out. They also have these speed bumps, like they give you a warning, they are in the dark, they are not marked, you hit a bump and leave your soul behind you,” she stated.

Kelis also expressed concern about the country’s drainage and waste management systems.

“And the drainage system isn’t working, so when it’s raining, it floods. Also, the trash, the waste management here is trash, like it’s absolutely awful, it doesn’t exist.”

She went on to highlight the high cost of shipping and imports, noting that living in Kenya with an American lifestyle can be extremely expensive.

 “If you want to live here like an American, it’s definitely going to cost you triple the price. When you bring anything into the country, not just American stuff, it’s definitely going to jack you,” she explained.

The singer further described Kenya’s car market as a “nightmare,” criticizing the prevalence of imported second-hand vehicles. 

“They say that if it’s not used here in Kenya, then it’s like new, which makes no sense. It can be 20 years old in another country, probably Japan, and they’ll still charge over Ksh8.4 million,” she said.

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However, Kelis clarified that her comments were not meant to discredit Kenya or compare it negatively to the United States.

 “This is not a comparison to America; these are just observations that can help the diaspora. Kenya is still one of the best countries on the continent, in my opinion. This is my honest two cents as an American living here,” she concluded.

Moving to Kenya

This announcement comes a few months after she opened up about her decision to move to Kenya, acquire expansive farmland, and start a new life on the African continent as a farmer, entrepreneur, and rancher.

Speaking to podcast outlet Earn Your Leisure in June 2025, Kelis expressed her deep admiration for Kenya, revealing that she bought 300 acres of land in Naivasha while also detailing the reasoning behind the groundbreaking decision.