Despite all the economic and social challenges we have in Kenya, I see every reason for young Kenyans to remain here. Photo/GRAPHICS
I have been married for four years and my wife has won a US Green Card. We have a son and since I have a good job in Kenya, I no longer feel like going to start all over again in another country. The decision is likely to wreck my marriage. Please advise me on how to approach the issue.
——————–
In the Holy Bible Book of Exodus 33:3, we read, “Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way”.
Your question reminds me of this verse in the Holy Bible, in part because the challenge that is before you is whether to leave the opportunities of present day Kenya or pursue a new life in a land full of promise.
In the last few years, the fact that millions of Kenyans now live in “the diaspora” has been accepted. They play a big part in the economic growth.
In the new Constitution , not only will many be able to claim dual citizenship, they will also be entitled to vote. We will soon recognise as full citizens people born outside of Kenya.
Because his father was Kenyan, the Hawaiian born Barrack Obama is now entitled to a Kenyan passport, whether the people of Arizona like it or not! (They think he was born in Kenya!).
Many other Kenyans living legally or otherwise in the USA, UK, Germany and many other economic powerhouses, will have their children born there become Kenyans and begin to enjoy the fruits of dual citizenship.
To better understand why your question is such a challenge, one has to look back at the history of migration of Kenyans to Europe and America, beginning with the major airlift (by Tom Mboya others) in the late 50s and 60s, followed by my own generation mini airlift of the 70s in pursuit of postgraduate education.
This was followed in the 80s and 90s by the economic migration of thousands of legal and illegal immigrants running away from economic decline brought about by rampant corruption and poor governance.
Most Kenyans have a brother, cousin, son of or other relative who made the economic migration.
Many other Kenyans left in search of university education as the standards of education deteriorated rapidly, in part driven by frequent strikes.
From your question I gather you are a young family, married only four years with one child.
I wonder what would drive your family to migrate to “the land of milk and honey”. Like the Lord, I am not sure I would come with you!
Despite all the economic, social and political challenges we have in Kenya today, I see every reason for young Kenyans to remain here, and fight a good war in their claim for the fortune and future of this country.
Several reasons persuade me that you should stay, and get your other young relatives to come back with their skills and money to build this great nation.
Other than the fact of a new Constitution, there are many other reasons for us to believe that the dark hours we have gone through in the last decade or two portend a new dawn for Kenya.
Many Kenyans in their 50s and 60s worked hard to ensure that Kenya is the new “true land of milk and honey”, where in the course of time, citizens will be judged “not by their tribal origin, but on the content of their character!” (Remember Martin Luther King?).
I have often been accused of being a “romantic optimist” in holding this firm view in the midst of major political goings on.
In pleading guilty to being an optimist, I believe our society has changed at the core, and continues to change despite of superficial cracks visible as passing clouds of political hyperactivity.
Much as a coach should not, I have a clear opinion for you, your wife and son Benjamin, stay and let us build our own land of milk and honey.
The basic ingredients are in place, all we need now are people like you!
Americans give you a green card not because they love you, but because they know you can help them build their land.
Comments