Italians in Kenya who work in the tourism sector would not like to die hoping, not least because they know well what the old adage goes, but they are pleased with how the new Kenyan Minister of Tourism, Alfred Mutua is acting to protect the interests of his country's entire tourism industry and create the conditions to welcome many more travellers than in past years.

Mutua, who has replaced his evanescent colleague Penninah Malonza as head of one of the country's nerve centres ministries, which in addition to hospitality takes care of wildlife, had already lashed out days ago against the authorities at the international airports of Nairobi and Mombasa, accusing them of intimidating and making demands on incoming foreign tourists, especially to enforce rules that are not too clear.

As if it was no coincidence, the Kenyan Revenue Agency (KRA) raised a fuss yesterday, pointing out that one of these rules must be enforced and that is that any tourist can be taxed if they carry personal items, new or used, that exceed $500 in value.

"We harass our visitors when they come to this country and then we wonder why they don't come back. If you go to Rwanda they don't harass you. But why, doesn't Rwanda collect taxes? If you go to South Africa they don't collect taxes?" complained Mutua in a video that went viral on Tik Tok.
After the KRA's release, which yesterday afternoon partially corrected its stance, Mutua has now asked for a meeting with the Kenyan tax authorities to see how a solution can be reached that does not punish those who show up in Kenya with 'luxury' personal property, and at the same time does not discourage future travellers from choosing the country and its beauties as a holiday destination.

Mutua is by no means a pushover, he was until a few weeks ago Foreign Minister and has resolved situations, such as the exploitation of Kenyans' labour in Saudi Arabia, far more sensitive than this one.
We are no longer used to hoping for miracles, like the Malindi International Airport, but we trust Alfred Mutua so that things from the point of view of the influx of tourists in peace and in good numbers, at least, do not get worse.