FOCUS: Kenya

ERA Kenya’s Karima Shivji has been working in the international relocations industry for the past seven years and has witnessed first-hand the increase in international assignees relocating to Kenya. “I’m excited for the future of the relocations industry but also for the future of Kenya,” says Karima.

Admittedly a workaholic, Karima says the relocations industry has no time limits and sometimes she’s awake replying to her northern hemisphere clients in the early morning hours. “There are many parts to an international relocation and my job is to serve my clients as best I can,” says Karima.

The biggest challenge she faces is misinformation that is fed to the assignees. “People often consult Google for information about Kenya and more often than not, the information isn’t accurate. It’s my job to inform them and I try to always be open and honest so the client can make the most informed decision for him and his family.”

“An international relocation can be a very exciting, but also a very daunting experience. It’s crucial to be transparent with our assignees and vice versa. Every mission has its own challenges but time is limited and things can move very quickly. You always need a Plan B,” says Karima.

“The industry has changed a lot over the past couple of years,” says Karima. “One of the biggest advantages is the improvement in communications, both from an internal and external point of view. Whereas I can contact my clients any time of the day, similarly our ERA offices across Africa are reachable within seconds and that support is truly a great contributor to our success here in Kenya.”

When she’s not working she loves to relax with a book. With both her sons studying abroad (in Italy and the US, respectively), Karima is most excited to become a grandmother for the first time. And with a grandchild on the way, Karima admits the relocations industry will pretty soon have stiff competition for the top spot in her life.