Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has commended Kenyans for rallying together to defend the country’s image following controversial remarks by American actress Skai Jackson about her visit to Kenya.
Mwaura said the public response to Jackson’s comments reflected the country’s patriotism, noting that Kenyans remain united whenever the nation’s reputation is challenged.
Speaking at Harambee Annex in Nairobi on Monday, Mwaura said that Kenya has made significant progress over the years and should no longer be viewed through outdated stereotypes.
“We have seen some people coming to our country, and they come to speak negatively about us. There is an actress called Skai Jackson who remarked about mirrors in Kenya. What we used to witness before, when Africa was being painted in a bad picture by the American media, is a thing of the past,” Mwaura said.
“We are in a new digital era of becoming a first-world country. Kenya is a country that has rapidly grown. The other day, you saw President William Ruto representing the whole of Africa at the G7 Summit. Our country has a stable economy in Central and West Africa. Our currency is strong and we have athletes competing on world stages.”
Mwaura thanked Kenyans for speaking out against Jackson’s remarks, saying their response demonstrated that national unity transcends political differences.
“I thank Kenyans for standing up against the American actress Skai Jackson’s sentiment. We may have our differences as Kenyans, but when we are provoked, we stand together. Thank you, patriotic Kenyans, for defending our country. Let us continue standing up for our country,” he said.
The Government Spokesman also defended Kenya’s reputation as a safe and attractive destination for tourism and investment, warning that statements discouraging visitors from travelling to the country amount to economic sabotage.
He said the tourism sector continues to register strong growth, with international arrivals increasing from about 1.48 million to 2.2 million visitors, while domestic tourism has risen to 5.2 million travellers, bringing the total number of tourists to approximately 7.5 million.
According to Mwaura, the industry remains one of Kenya’s leading foreign exchange earners and supports thousands of jobs across the country.
He criticised leaders urging tourists to avoid certain parts of Kenya, saying such statements threaten hotels, tour operators, small businesses and communities whose livelihoods depend on tourism.
The remarks come days after Jackson apologised for comments she made about her visit to Kenya that sparked criticism on social media.
In a video shared online on Sunday, July 19, 2026, the actress said her remarks were based on an experience in a small village she visited in 2018 and were never intended to describe Kenya as a whole.
“I wanted to apologise for my conversation when I was talking about my trip to Kenya. I did not mean any disrespect by it. I went back in 2018, and I did go to a very tiny village. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. I really, really enjoyed my time in Kenya. I truly loved my experience, and I was not being funny,” she said.
“I just wanted to apologise. I hope you guys forgive me. I would never be disrespectful or say anything that’s crazy because I’m not that type of person,” she added.
Jackson had claimed in a viral clip that mirrors were expensive in the village she visited and that many children she met had never seen their own reflections until they looked at her phone.
The remarks drew widespread backlash from Kenyans, who accused the actress of perpetuating outdated and misleading stereotypes about the country.
