From left: Kenyans living in Mauritius Gilbert Njenga, Susan Muia and Michelle Kinda.
What is it like to live in Mauritius? Well, picture a tiny island where turquoise waters meet a blend of African, Indian, Chinese and European culture. It’s a place where nearly all food is imported, adding to the diversity of the people themselves.
In the mix of it all, a growing community of Kenyans is adding a new rhythm to the island’s heartbeat, excelling in work, studies and soaking up the leisurely island lifestyle.
Michelle Kinda, 26, works with African College of higher education.
Michelle Kinda, 26, first heard about Mauritius through her university friends. They had travelled there for a community-based internship, planting trees while enjoying what looked like endless fun in the sun.
“They were going to parties, visiting clubs, and just having the time of their lives,” Michelle recalled with a laugh. “I remember thinking, Oh my, I missed out on all this?”
At the time, she was finishing her studies in Informatics and Computer Science at Strathmore University. After graduating in October 2022, she worked as a data analyst and quality assurance tester for a US-based company called Clay, under a local firm named Executive Assist. “It was a good job,” she said, “but working from home every day just felt isolating. I wanted something more immersive, something that would let me meet people and grow.”
“It was like Mauritius chose me”
That desire for more eventually led her to Mauritius. After working for a while in Rwanda with the African Leadership University, she applied for a new position within the same institution. The job offers came with one exciting twist, it was based on the island of Mauritius. “It was more like Mauritius chose me through work,” she said.
African Leadership College
Six months later, Michelle has settled in on the island, living in Grand Baie in northern Mauritius. She works with the African Leadership College, part of the African Leadership University network, which aims to nurture a new generation of ethical African leaders. “It is such a fulfilling mission,” she shared. “We are shaping people who will change the continent for the better.”
When she first arrived, Michelle expected constant sunshine and endless beach days. “I thought it would be hot all the time,” she laughed. “But it turns out, some parts of the island are actually quite cool. One day I even had to wear a sweater.”
She was also surprised by how friendly people were. “Everyone is so warm and welcoming. The expat community is very open and even the locals are happy to show you around. One friend took a whole day off just to drive me across the island and introduce me to Mauritian food.”
Her adventures in food have been memorable. “I absolutely love roti from this place called Time Flies,” she said. “It is so good, I could eat it every day.”
But like any Kenyan abroad, there are foods she misses. “I miss pork mixed with sukuma wiki,” she said with a nostalgic grin. “That is such a Kenyan classic.” Finding Kenyan ingredients in Mauritius has not been easy and Michelle admits she sometimes ships staples like ugali flour from home.
When it comes to living expenses, she said that island life can be pricey. “Mauritius is expensive. You need money,” she said frankly.
“But settling in is easier here because you can rent a nice furnished apartment without spending a fortune. Rent is around Sh42,250 to Sh84,500. I pay on the lower end for a two-bedroom, and it is very comfortable.”
She quickly learned that grocery shopping can be an adventure of its own. “Almost everything here is imported, so prices are high,” she explained. “An avocado can cost about Sh300. I have learned not to convert in my head while shopping. That is the only way I survive.”
Still, the beauty and vibrancy of Mauritius have made every shilling worth it. One of her favourite memories is attending a rugby sevens tournament earlier this year. “It was so much fun. The Kenyan community showed up in full force, cheering loudly and teasing other teams, especially Zimbabwe,” she said, laughing.
Outside of work, Michelle spends her time exploring beaches and soaking in island life. “My favourite beach right now is La Morne in the southwest,” she said dreamily. “I used to think Kenya had the most beautiful beaches in the world, but Mauritius might just take the top spot.”
Does she ever feels torn between her two homes, Kenya and Mauritius?
“Kenya will always be home because of my family and friends,” Michelle said softly after a pause. “But right now, I would still choose Mauritius. I feel like there is so much more to experience here. It gives me a balance, I can go for salsa on Wednesdays, Pilates on Thursdays, drinks with friends on Fridays and the beach on Saturdays. It is a good life.”
For Michelle, Mauritius is not just an island, it is a chapter of growth, discovery and joy. “We like to say it is full-time fun and part-time work,” she laughed.
From Michelle’s easy laughter and adventurous spirit, it is clear that Mauritius can turn work into play and strangers into friends. But she is not alone in this journey as Gilbert Njenga, has also found his rhythm on the island, trading Nairobi’s rush for Mauritius’ calm waves.
From school to tech life
At 26, Gilbert Njenga has already lived what many would call a global life. From the busy streets of Nairobi to the calm, breezy coastlines of Mauritius, his story is one of curiosity, courage and chasing opportunity wherever it appears.
Gilbert Njenga, 26, is a systems engineer.
“I have always been open-minded,” Gilbert said with an easy smile. “When I see an opportunity, I go for it. I do not overthink. I just take the step.”
Today, Gilbert works as a systems engineer at a tech company that assigns IP resources and ASN numbers across the African region. But his journey to this point began with a leap of faith back in 2018.
A friend in Mauritius had mentioned the island’s education opportunities and Gilbert, then in Kenya, decided to try his luck. “I told myself, what is the worst that can happen?” he recalled. “So, I applied, got a partial scholarship and moved to Mauritius to study Information Technology at Amity University.”
Balancing studies and part-time work was not easy, but Gilbert was determined. His effort paid off, he graduated with first-class honours in 2021. Even before finishing his studies, he had already started looking for internship opportunities. “I knew I had to be proactive,” he said. “Most people wait until they are done with school to look for jobs, but I wanted to be ahead.”
The move from Kenya to Mauritius brought surprises of its own. Gilbert had imagined he would improve his French by talking to locals, but instead found himself surrounded by people speaking a language he had never heard before, Creole. “That was my first shock,” he laughed. “I had learned French at Alliance Française in Nairobi, but in Mauritius, people spoke Creole, which sounded so different. At first, I hated it. But after learning the history of the country, I understood why the language was important to them. I began to appreciate it.”
Cultural adjustment took time too. Life on the island, he said, is much slower than in Kenya. “In Nairobi, everything moves fast, people, businesses, transport. Here, everything is calm and slow. The supermarkets close early, the buses stop early, there is no Uber. You have to adapt.”
But with the slow pace came peace. “There is a calmness that I have learned to love. You can think clearly, plan your life, and just breathe.”
As he found his footing, Gilbert noticed how Mauritius was shaping up as a regional tech and financial hub. “There are many opportunities, especially in tech and finance. You just have to look for them and stand out,” he explained. “If you wait, you might struggle. The earlier you start preparing, the better.”
Living costs, he said, depend on how one manages their lifestyle. “Mauritius can be expensive if you are not careful, but it is manageable,” he said. “If you want to live by the beach, it will cost more, around Sh45,000 to Sh80,000. But if you live near the city centre, it can go down to Sh30,000 or even less.”
When he is not working, Gilbert enjoys simple pleasures, road trips along the island’s coastal roads, where the ocean seems to stretch forever. “That is one of my best experiences,” he said fondly. “Driving by the coast, with the sea right beside you, it is something you never forget.”
He also values the sense of community among Kenyans in Mauritius. Still, Gilbert does not feel torn between two homes. “Kenya is home, yes, but I have made homes in many countries, Uganda, Tanzania, Mauritius. I am a global citizen,” he said thoughtfully. “Every place I live becomes part of me.”
As Gilbert reflects on balance and growth, another Kenyan has been quietly building her own story of courage and discovery. From student life to career success, Susan Muia’s path shows just how much Mauritius can shape one’s future.
Home in an Island
Susan Muia, 26, is an internal auditor in Grand Bai.
Susan Muia, 26, has built a life far from home but filled with discovery and self-growth. From Kenya to the turquoise waters of Mauritius, her journey began as a student and has now blossomed into a fulfilling career as an internal auditor on the island.
When Susan first arrived in Mauritius in January 2021, it was not part of her original plan. “I came here as a student,” she said, smiling at the memory. “After I finished school, I got a job offer, so I decided to stay. It has been five years now.”
Before making that move, Susan had been set to study Nutrition and Dietetics at the Technical University of Kenya while working as a marketing intern for close to two years. But when the opportunity to study abroad came her way, she followed her instincts. “I had an offer in Kenya, but I chose to come here instead,” she recalled.
She joined the African Leadership Campus in Mauritius, where she pursued Business Management, a decision that changed her life’s direction. “Honestly, when I first came here, I did not know much about Mauritius,” Susan admitted. “Google showed me beautiful beaches and resorts, but when we arrived, we realised many of those places were only accessible through hotels. Still, it is such a peaceful island, so laid-back compared to Kenya.”
The cultural shift took some adjustment, especially with language. “The hardest thing for me to date is the language,” she laughed. “They speak French and Mauritian Creole, which sounds like French but is very local. You have to learn the basics.”
Despite this, Susan found warmth in the people and comfort in the familiar tastes of home. “Being Kenyan here is actually easy,” she said. “You find foods like pilau and biryani, and it gives you that homely feeling.” She often finds herself looking for fellow Kenyans.
“When I see someone with a Kenyan bracelet, I just have to say, ‘You are Kenyan,’” she said with a smile.
Read: From a dishwasher: How Cyprian Ajevi turned leftovers into a thriving cooking business in the US
But life on the island has its surprises. “One thing that shocked me is how strong the family unit is here,” she said. “People live close to their parents, sometimes building houses right above their parents’ home. A whole street can be full of relatives!” She also laughed about the limited public transport. “After 7 pm, there are no buses. If you are stuck, you have to find a taxi. It is expensive because there is no Uber.”
Susan has also learned to live through Mauritius’ cyclone seasons. “From February to April, it can get really bad, heavy rains, no going out. It feels like a lockdown,” she said. “This year was not so bad, but last year was terrible.”
In terms of work and opportunity, Susan finds Mauritius both calm and open. “The job market here is more relaxed than in Kenya,” she said. “If you have the right skills and know how to present yourself, it is easier to get a job. They actually look for people from abroad because many locals move to Europe.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
