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American singer Kelis overjoyed as she harvests onions for the first time in Kenya
15th January, 2026 01:06 AM
American R&B star Kelis is celebrating a major milestone in her agricultural venture in Kenya, having successfully harvested her first batch of onions.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the star expressed excitement over the achievement and its potential for the wider community.
“Update! Did you know agriculture in Africa is projected to hit Ksh129 trillion by 2030? I want to make this available for the diaspora. You guys saw me talk about it on @earnyourleisure. You saw us plant seeds a few months ago,” she wrote
The first harvest produced an impressive 50 tonnes of onions, which Kelis and her team have already taken to market in Kenya.
She described the moment as a huge step toward creating agricultural opportunities for people everywhere.
“Great news. We’ve successfully harvested the first batch of onions, 50 tonnes, and taken them to market here in #KENYA. We are one step closer to opening up this opportunity for everyone,” she said.
Kelis also encouraged her followers to get involved in the initiative.
This comes a few months after Kelis 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, criticising 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.
However, Kelis clarified that her comments were not meant to discredit Kenya or compare it negatively to the United States.
