Nairobi News

American singer-songwriter Kelis Rogers is in Kenya.

In a video posted in her socials, the bubbly singer was captured navigating Nairobi’s Central Business District’s infamous traffic, psyching herself up to a crossroads where she found that pedestrians had no right of way.

In the video in which she was carrying several ‘Uhuru’ bags with shopping inside, she chanted, “Be aggressive, be, be aggressive’ taught to school-going children as she prepared to cross a road.

Famed for her hit single, Milkshake, Kelis is filmed on Kenyatta Avenue where several public service vehicles were navigating and squeezing through to get by.

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Amid the chaos of beeping horns and vehicles manoeuvring through the crowded street, Kelis, with a playful smile, says, “Pedestrians, don’t have the right of way.”

She then ran across the road, having said it was like playing ‘Double Dutch’ before one had to run across the road.

Double Dutch is a game played with two jump ropes turning in opposite directions. Participants, usually children, jump over the ropes as they turn. The game involves a high level of skill, agility, and timing, as the jumpers need to coordinate their movements to avoid getting caught in the ropes.

An acquaintance of hers was waiting for her on the other side of the road before they proceeded galivanting about town.

“Guess where I’m at now!?!? Pro tip! Pedestrians do not have the right of way, you better move fast and look both ways,” Kelis captioned her video.

Kelis is currently on a tourism tour in Africa. Prior to arriving in Nairobi, she was in Zanzibar where she was filmed shopping for groceries in an open-air market. Aside from being a singer, she is also a chef.

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Kenyans were especially pleased to learn she was in the country and was keeping a low profile, considering her celebrity status.

“When ppl have NO idea there’s a GODDESS walking amongst them 😩🙇🏾‍♂️👽✨,” said Jimmi Montana.

“My crush is in our city??? 🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️ *faints*” added David Muriithi a.k.a DJ D-Lite.

“It’s crazy they don’t even know who you are or how famous you are, Kelis lol be careful on them intersections Kelis,” said Juice.

Many lauded Kelis for being down to earth, fun, and fashionable as she spent time moving about the CBD.

This, however, is not her first time in Kenya. In 2019, she was in the country but headed to the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Park in Narok County.

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Posting a photo of herself in a beige spotted dress paired with safari boots, she said, “This is our tracker and guide here in Maasai Mara. His name is Enock, and he is a Maasai warrior. There is so much I’ve learned from him this week. Kenyan people are also so naturally calm and mild.”

Adding, “I love when I fly somewhere for the first time and immediately walking out of the airport you get a sense of the culture instantly. It was busy but relaxed and so respectful. It’s hard to explain but I knew right away this was going to be good. But I couldn’t have foreseen just how great it would be.”

She was in the company of her son, Knight, as she toured Kenya and Tanzania. She had been on a mission to learn how to prepare various African dishes and bring the knowledge back to America.

In addition to Knight whom she had with rapper Nas, she also has other children, Shepherd and Galilee with her late husband, Mike Mora, who died in March 2022 at the age of 37 after battling cancer for two years.

Kelis is world famous for her hit songs including Milkshake, Millionaire, Trick Me, Bossy, Good Stuff and Get Along With You among several others.