Kenya’s ambassador to the United States Robinson Njeru Githae has refuted claims of extorting Kenyans in the diaspora.
Responding to allegations that the embassy was overcharging Kenyans in the US for consular services such as application for renewal of passports and identity cards, the envoy said the extra charges are “associated with logistics.”
The diplomat said the allegations are meant to destroy the good reputation of the Kenya’s embassy in Washington DC, terming them as baseless.
“The information circulating around on social media has no basis in facts. The information has been manipulated to make it look like the embassy is charging more than it’s required when it comes to ID issuance but the reality is, the seemingly extra charges are those associated with logistics,” he said.
“The embassy does not have enough manpower to send out to different cities and that’s the reason we engage the services of other groups in specific cities,” the envoy told a Kenyan scholars’ conference in Atlanta on Saturday.
A section of Kenyans in the US took to social media to express their displeasure over the extra fees charged for the services by the embassy. They claimed that Mr Githae and the embassy was for instance charging $150 (Sh15,000) for an identity card instead of the normal $45 (Sh4,500).
One of them said that Kenyans living in Kansas were asked to raise at least Sh6 million for the embassy officials to travel to the city to issue the vital documents on October 6th and 7th failure to which the event would be cancelled. Kenyan Parents in USA, a Kenyan Diaspora group, will be hosting the exercise.
In a similar exercise recently held in Atlanta, many Kenyans said they were charged almost double the fee.
“In addition, there is a large number of diaspora who cannot travel to DC or even anywhere else as they lack travel papers,” Githae told Kenya News Satellite
“It is our duty and responsibility to assist and help this group of Kenyan diaspora,” said Githae.
This is broad daylight theft…
This is broad daylight theft imported straight from Kenya. If these are the kind of people who are representing us we are in deep deep dudu. This embassy does not answer calls, does not solve issues facing Kenyans and all you hear are parties parties on 12th December, June 1st ONLY in DC. Bure Bure kabisa. No better if this embassy was operating from river road Nrb.
Modern technology can…
Modern technology can accommodate completion of a passport application without the need for a physical presence. Finger prints may be obtained through a bona-fide identity verification company, a more attractive option than taking people’s hard earned money as your compensation for doing what you are already hired to do. knowing the reputation and culture of corruption involving Kenya government workers, it’s easy to understand the scepticism expressed by Kenyans in Kansas.
How about “Mr. they can eat…
How about “Mr. they can eat rats” you provide us with a report. Please include a budget, actual income and expenses and the services you rendered. Do not be sparing on the details.
Are you going to treat with the contempt your likes have for other Kenyans and tell we don’t deserve an explanation because “hii pesa sio ya mama yako”
Thank you Jamama.
Show us…
Thank you Jamama.
Show us your operations.
I called these morons recently about another future diaspora scam that was claiming to enroll NHIF Diaspora ‘for their families’…WTH?
All I wanted was the numb-skulls in DC to confirm that NHIF, a government parastatal, had sent one Lucy to create a website http://www.winpamoja.com and start collecting money from Kenyans in the US. I called in one of their meetings…I asked what you ask of Githae – produce a recod of just 2 years…how has NHIF used funds to help Kenyans out? The mama then goes hysterical ati ‘accountability is beyond my scope’…then how do you want us to contribute towards a scam, whose only contact is safaricom cellphone numbers…and all communication to be in Kenya. That is, ukiibiwa hapa, no recourse. Hizi namba za Kenya they change them daily like underwear.
The 5000 Diaspora members whose money looks like its lost with Ezeka…how are the pigs in DC helping Diaspora?
Why can’t they hire Diaspora to work in their embassy?
Diaspora: We are going to make noise to get things done.
Millicent Sifuna Accused of…
Millicent Sifuna Accused of Theft
Millicent Sifuna pictured has been accused of allegedly embezzling funds from a Kenyan Diaspora organization in USA and plans to file charges with the FBI for wire fraud are in high gear. The revelation came during a Diaspora Confernce planning meeting when it was revealed that Millicent Sifuna colluded with David Ochwangi and Juliana Mwose to divert funds raised at a crowfunding site for their own purposes.
Millicent Sifuna who is accused of embezzling community funds is under investigation for wire fraud.
Source: Kenya Diaspora Media
http://kenyadiasporamedia.org/2015/05/mary-munyiri-response-to-david-ochwangi-re-diaspora-conference-part/
Jambo News Sport
http://www.jambonewspot.com/diaspora-group-hits-at-masquaraders-organizing-diaspora-conference-in-atlanta/
US ambassador’s Diaspora Conference Planning Meeting ends in Disarray
By Mary Munyiri
A meeting called by a group that was supposedly chosen by Kenya US ambassador, Robinson Githae, to plan a Diaspora Conference slated for September ended in Disarray when the planners were accused of misrepresentation.
The five people masquerading as Diaspora leaders approached the Ambassador in March claiming they have the capacity and community following to stage the Diaspora Conference.
It turns out that David Ochwangi, Dr.Juliana Mwose, Millicent Sifuna and Charles Mutunga are just four people, plus a few others. The organization they are claiming to lead had suspended them (except for Dr. Mwose) way back in January for misappropriating funds and violating the code of conduct.
Thirty minutes into the meeting, an official of the organization brought the meeting to a standstill, accusing them of lacking integrity to be leaders of the Diaspora. She questioned why other leaders were not invited. The person specifically accused Millicent Sifuna of moving the organizations funds into her own account working in collusion with the three.
The person said that on February 15, 2015, David Ochwangi who had been suspended from the organization on January 31, 2015 went to the Website of the Secretary of State, Georgia, and illegally declared himself “CEO”, Millicent Sifuna (suspended on Jan 21st) as “CFO” and Dr. Juliana Mwose, :Secretary”. The Secretary of State of Georgia removed Ochwangi and his team on May 13th 2015.
The meeting learned that in February, the Ambassador had called for volunteers from the entire US to assist in identifying a suitable city for hosting the conference. To date, no volunteer has been contacted, and host City has not been publicly announced. It came as a shock to many to learn that David Ochwangi got a letter addressed to him specifically with the green light to host the Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
As the meeting was called off, participants said that the planning committee should be coordinated by representatives of registered Diaspora organizations from all corners of USA.
After the official end of the meeting, the organizers were heard saying the next meeting will be in secret. Only their closest buddies will be given login information. They said that when the conference goes to Atlanta, any Kenyan who questions them will be thrown out by security. Unaware that many people were still listening, Juliana Mwose, Charles Mutunga, and one John Patrick Kariuki, were heard planning their next tricks. In the next meeting, they plan to have a platform whereby they can mute whoever disagrees with them. They will thenstream roll themselves to the conference, and and impose themselves as “Diaspora Leaders”. Anybody who opposes them will be thrown out by security. “The Ambassador is for us, who can be against us?”, asked Charles Mutunga rhetorically..
OP-ED by Mary Munyiri-marymm121212@gmail.com
_______________________________________________________________________________-
Disclaimer
I can confidently say…
I can confidently say without fear nor contradiction that am Very proud of what I did, and would do exactly that – stop failed lunatics from looting Kenyans in the diaspora;that I have stopped 3 scams started by a few misguided thieves in diaspora. 2 were by the same Lucy – all driven by the very Mary Munyiri, Comfort Munoru and a Tegi Obanda. I would do it again. FYI, the $300 is still with Wells Fargo bank. Why would I steal $300? It is unclaimed money in the state of Georgia. Feel free to Google. Try again. Mlijaribu kunichafua jina, wapi.Unbowed.The old men who were trying to cut deals seem to have lost family na Sioni hio NHIF ikisaidia. MMMH? Thieves!
And where are they now:
Mary Munyiri – Mental; tried to sue state for forced committment.
Comfort Munoru – Fought with the same Munyiri. Wivu na roho chafu ZA kwenu huko.
Susan Kariuki of Karisan Media spent days posting my name – six feet under; dead.
Diaspora Messenger – House burned down. Walikuwa wanaomba hapa pesa juzi.
Mwakilishi – U have one against you already; you will never recover when it lands.
You spread hateful messages against people due to tribalism, shiet is coming your way.
By the way, David Ochwangi hosted a successful event with Maraga.
Winpamoja the NHIF scam must be stopped. And I will do all I can to make sure it is stalled. I have been conned once by these Kenyan only (contacts) scams. If Diaspora cannot have a help-desk in the US or Europe, stay away.
Proudly Sifuna.
NHIF & Winpamoja must be stopped.
https://cases.justia.com…
https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/tennessee/tnedce/3:2014cv00515/72930/47/0.pdf?ts=1494677945
copy and paste this link and shut down this tangatangaring whack
Google Sifuna vs south college Tennessee and see how she rubbed the wrong people who could do something about her. Useless kabisa. Your grandmother is turning in her grave seeing the rot youbecame..Millicent Adhiambo Sifuna. Dead grandmother and you dare mention Susan Kariuki..a respectable journalist. May she rest in peace. You are poison. Cheth.
Sifuna stole $1230 from Diaspora-ICKDO after being the one entrusted to open the GoFundMe to raise money for the website. To date the money was never returned and she boasts here how she is proud of stealing.Ati $300. We need to inform the College in Tennessee about Diaspora experience with you and send excerpts of your madness and loose mouth. Read how her uncouthness led to her being kicked of an University.Her abusive words and disrespect of people and their property, did cost her her job and status. She hides here on Mwakilishi hating and abusing people. Worst outh on earth..terrible woman. You all know ofcourse. She is a thief and has no moral authority to point fingers.
Ask your family members you…
Ask your family members you want to insure to go to the NHIF and register . They need to bring with them the copy of id and probably E-citizen number which is connected to Pin no. after that you can send the money directly into NHIF account . too many conmen especially because they think we earn pieces of stoneswhich turn to money ( tuthukumaga ngio ) that is why we are super rich
I said and will say it again…
I said and will say it again with social media you better get approval before you drain Kenyans amy extra coin..talk of Logistics?? Sasa if you need do sensors in Kenya or issue ID In remote Kenya..Turkana. Garsen do you ask the Kenyans to meet the cost?? Budget..members of Parliament even senate have approval and budget to travel even go to World cup..why not issuance of essential documents..in summary you have failed to represent us fairly you could have submitted budget request to meet the same your term should end give someone a chance..I aint spending any extra dime..it is not a favour it is an obligation to serve all Kenyan Mr. Githae .Uhuru/Ruto invest on. Digital well versed Kenyan there is a lot to gain from the diaspora USA..I see nothing tried to search any forums ni kama everbody by himself God for us all..NO NO..Lets create good room to empower our Kenyan Community.
Why are we responsible of…
Why are we responsible of paying for “Logistics”? Asking people in U.S. Ksh.15,000 while the normal charge is Ksh. 4,500 is quite ridiculous. Where is it classified on National Registration Bureau that Diasporans pay more money? Your Embassy is in United States to serve all Kenyans living there and that should be funded by Kenyan government. This sounds like a Scam to me and Bribery! And, the DC staff members are so rude, they serve people like they are still in Kenya. What’s the purpose of the Embassy being here if it can’t serve it’s citizens legitimately?
KISIMA CHA MAARIFA: …
KISIMA CHA MAARIFA: SULUHISHO.
Naiomba serikali ya Kenya na wafanyi kazi katika afisi za ubalozi zitumie teknolojia ya kisasa ili kuharakisha miradi (projects) kazini.
Pia naiomba serikali ya Kenya na wafanyi kazi wote katika afisi za ubalozi wa Kenya ulimwenguni kote wajitahidi (make an effort) kusoma gazeti la Mwakilishi na kusikiliza maoni ya wananchi.
“ELIMU HAINA MWISHO.”
Wewe wacha kuomba omba…
Wewe wacha kuomba omba serikali. Demand for services. Diaspora have a duty to demand for accountability.
http://kenyanparentsinusa…
http://kenyanparentsinusa.org/ looks like the extra fees is private fess not GVT
Do the embassy is colluding…
Do the embassy is colluding with the private organisation to extort money from kenyans. They are like the brokers at immigration. Githae should take his kenyan mentality back home.
Every month politicians come…
Every month politicians come to USA for brainstorming on how to fish Nile Perch. Which is cheaper to ship Kenya politicians from Kenya to USA or to Ship your gang from DC to Kansas? The same government is footing the bill. With social media you cannot get away with this one.
https://www.standardmedia.co…
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000216768/kenya-embassy-staff-on-the-spot-as-2-000-visa-stickers-go-missing-in-dc
Copy and paste url…read about how the same Embassy and Ambassador is in court on millions missing from Visa Stamps to enter Kenya. Auditor General Ouko caught it.
Ouko reveals theft of Sh1…
Ouko reveals theft of Sh1.5bn visas in Kenyan embassies
SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2016 18:59
Washington DC-based ambassador Robinson Githae whose mission is linked to passport breach. PHOTO | FILE Washington DC-based ambassador Robinson Githae whose mission is linked to passport breach. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
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Several foreign missions cannot account for visa stickers and passports worth Sh1.5 billion, reflecting the poor record keeping in embassies that has paved the way for fraudulent dealings.
Auditor-General Edward Ouko said the Department of Immigration can only account for Sh1.5 billion passports and stickers against documents worth Sh2.9 billion delivered to the embassies in the two years to June last year.
“The resultant difference of Sh1,472,489,638 has not been accounted for,” Mr Ouko said in the financial statements of the State department of Interior for the year to June 2015.
“In these circumstances, total revenue collected, excluding certificate of good conduct, identity cards and others of Sh2.99 billion, differs with the Sh1.52 billion reflected in the financial statements.”
Of the Sh2.9 billion, passports worth Sh268.5 million were delivered to the foreign missions while the embassies received visa stickers worth Sh2.7 billion.
The stickers are issued to foreigners who need visas to enter Kenya while the passports are issued to Kenyans in the diaspora.
Mr Ouko said there are no records to show the passports and visas were issued.
“The passports were not recorded at the embassies counter receipt book registers and also not produced for physical audit verification,” said Mr Ouko.
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Embassies linked to the passport breach include prime missions like Washington DC, London, Berlin and Pretoria.
Former Finance minister Robinson Njeru Githae is the Kenyan ambassador in Washington DC, Joseph Magut (Berlin) and Lazarus Amayo (London).
They were appointed in August 2014, but the period under the Auditor-General probe stretched to July 2013 and covered the first two years of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
Kenya has a history of multi-million dollar scandals that have failed to result in high-profile convictions. This has angered the public, who accuse top officials of acting with impunity and encouraging graft by those in lower posts.
Fraudulent dealings
Businesses also often cite pervasive corruption as one of the biggest obstacles to investment.
Faced with a growing public outcry last year, Mr Kenyatta promised to root out corruption in the government.
Five ministers stepped aside in 2015 after they faced corruption investigations and then lost their jobs in a reshuffle. Two former ministers are facing trial.
But Kenyans have focused more on pursuing local scandals, making it easier for embassy staff to engage in fraudulent dealings, especially flawed procurement.
Taxpayers have lost billions of shillings through controversial purchase of properties by the Foreign Affairs ministry.
Embassy staff have either disregarded valuation estimates by the Land ministry or failed to involve experts to justify disbursement of public money from the Treasury.
In 2010, senior officials at the Foreign Affairs ministry stepped aside amid a scandal involving the alleged misuse of funds for several land deals abroad.
The ministry is alleged to have refused an offer of land from the Japanese government in central Tokyo for a new embassy, opting instead for a building further away, against the advice of an estate agency.
Kenya lost $14m (Sh1.4 billion) during the land deal.
Money was also allegedly lost on embassy deals in Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Belgium and Pretoria, where officials spent millions of shillings to buy properties that were condemned for demolition after purchase.
Corruption in Kenyan embassy…
Corruption in Kenyan embassy need to b stopped.Also last time I checked the USA embassy in Kenya charges Kenyans lots of cash for visas n u go there for 2minutes interview as many do n ur corruptly denied visa n yr 15k is going like a wind.Their monies keep going up n that’s the way corruption is legally done.We need to talk about all this corruptions going on thru different embassy’s without taking sides.To me As May said they need to b closed.If they cannot offer the services online in this age,they all need to b closed starting with the corrupt USA embassy in gigiri which has continued to steal from Kenyans by overcharging them thou our stupid black pple still think u have to go to this white mzungu country’s to succeed which is n has bin big lies peddled by the fake majuu life n the white gods.
@amb’s honesty:
Asante sana…
@amb’s honesty:
Asante sana kwa kuwa KISIMA CHA MAARIFA!
Inasemekana ya kwamba, tangu Kijana Uhuru na mwenzake Kijana Ruto wawe viongozi wa Kenya, ufisadi umezidi kuliko utawala wa viongozi wote watatu ukiwekwa pamoja:
1. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta
2. Mzee Daniel Kipkorios Toroitich Arap Moi
3. Mzee Emilio Mwai Kibaki
Ajabu ni kuwa kiongozi wa YK92 (Arap Ruto) eti anataka kuwa kiongozi wa nchi ya Kenya 2022. Wananchi, msimruhusu kiongozi wa ufisadi Kenya kuingia kwenye jumba la letu la taifa kama rais wa Kenya 2022.
Viongozi wengine ambao wanahitaji kupingwa vikali kabisa kuwa rais wa Kenya 2022 ni:
1. Kalonzo Musyoka
2. Raila Amolo Odinga
3. Ali Hassan Joho
4. Gideon Moi
5. Musalia Mudavadi
6. Moses Wetangula
Kenya inahitaji kufanywa upya na viongozi wapya 2022
Viongozi wa ufisadi. Wote ni…
Viongozi wa ufisadi. Wote ni ufisadi tu!
I hope to get a special…
I hope to get a special price from Gikuyu mwenzangu,Nyani/Panya ambassador Githae.A Jaluo boy told me in the morning that we,Gikuyu are looting from other Kenyan tribes in US.I hope i will get a good deal,say $20 from Githae instead of the tribal share.I also hope to get a few BABQUED rats when i visit the embassy.
Githae, your sin will find…
Githae, your sin will find you out be careful. Don’t talk like you are the 1st Kenyan Ambassador to the US. Is it in your tenure that the embassy staff have been unable to serve the Kenyans in the US. They have done that and much more. Wacha Kuleta your manipulation into this country. You are here without any experience of what needs to be done instead of asking unanza kutanga tanga,, no wonder it is said we have to pay for your travel and accommodation as you sight see in the name of you have gone to give IDs.
Is that the work you were brought here to do?? Even uchafu that you are doing in the office is known na karibuni italipuka. Your own wife is suffering as a result. Own up bwana, before.. you are in the wrong country for you to act in the manner that you are doing. Let your staff work in the manner they know instead of running them like sheep and goats. And stop robbing us, we work so hard for our money$$$
Mr Githae, what logistics…
Mr Githae, what logistics are you talking about? I applied for a passport on April and upto date haven’t received it… tried to call and email that stupid embassy and nobody pick up the phone and when they do, you are transferred to a dead extension “27”. Why take people’s money then?
It so sad
It so sad
Did you forget who he is “OF…
Did you forget who he is “OF MICE AND RATS “He told kenyans they could eat mice and rats when they complained the could not make ends meet . while he was a cabinet minister . kwa hivyo ameleta that mentality to America and is asking us just that indirectly . This is what you get when appointees are paying back favours
KISIMA CHA MAARIFA: …
KISIMA CHA MAARIFA: SULUHISHO
Kwa Ndugu Uhuru na Ruto:
1. Mtu mliyemchagua kuwa balozi wa nchi ya Kenya ameshindwa na kazi.
2. Ingekuwa bora kama mnaweza kumchagua balozi mpya miongoni mwa Wanakenya walioko Marekani au mtuletee mtu ambaye anajua kufanya kazi.
3. Kama @Caro alivyosema, ukipiga simu kwenye ubalozi utafanyiwa mambo yote Caro aliyosema.
4. Wakati umefika sasa kwa kuifufua nchi yetu kwa kuwa na watu wanaojua kazi waliyopewa na kuifanya bila uzembe.
5. Yafaa kuwe na muda wa mambo kutendeka. Kwa mfano, unapoomba pasipoti yako hapa marekani, inachukua katikati ya wiki tatu na sita kuipata. Kwa nini inachukua muda mrufu kupata pasipoti ya Kenya?
5. Vitendo vya uzembe kama uliopo katika afisi ya ubalozi wa Jamhuri ya Kenya hapa Marekani, ndiyo sababu mojawapo unaoona dunia nzima ikitudharau na kutufanyia masihara!
“PALIPO NA NIA PANA NJIA.”
This fool should know he is…
This fool should know he is in that position for a short period. This is United States of America and you are dealing with American citizen. Once your term is over you will be taken to court for asking for bribery or whatever you might call it. You do not have a lifetime immunity. By the way it can be removed at any time you commit a crime.