About 4,000 Kenyans are seeking asylum in the United States, making it the most preferred destination for Kenyan asylum seekers, data from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) shows.
Data from the global body shows that there are more than 11,000 Kenyan citizens currently living abroad either as refugees or asylum seekers.
This figure does not include Kenyans who fled the country under similar circumstances but have not sought such protection. Such people include celebrated Kenyan author Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o and activist Prof Micere Mugo among others.
Kenyans seeking asylum prefer going to the US and Ethiopia, with both countries accounting for 70 percent of Kenyans who fled the country in the last 10 years.
UNHCR database as of September 2018 shows that 4,068 Kenyans (37 percent) are seeking safety in the US while 34 percent (3,750) are in Ethiopia.
Canada hosted the third highest number of Kenyan asylum seekers (five percent), followed by Germany (4.6 percent) and the United Kingdom (4 percent).
Despite growing economic ties between Kenya and China, the world’s second largest economy is not a preferred destination for Kenyan asylum seekers, receiving just five in that period.
Ethiopia?
Ethiopia?
I am with you on this one. …
I am with you on this one. I do not hear Kenyans going to Ethiopia. They go to TZ, Uganda, Botwana & South Africa
People will have negative…
People will have negative things to say about majuu but having lived almost half of my life there I can say it offers more than what Kenya does. Especially in US even though there is racial stigma in some places US is more diverse and provides equal opportunities to all. The key is: you have to be legal (visa, green card or citizen), get career certification ( degree or certificate), live simple and avoid big loans on huge house/car, always advance you skills ( higher certificate), avoid partying/drinking like everyday is a Saturday, have a good credit and up your financial game (invest, save, seek promotions or higher paying companies). Don’t just elienate yourself with Kenyans/Africans, widen your social group with whites, Asians, Hispanics. Do not settle and always aim higher knowing that majuu is what you make it!
U must be smoking some Trump…
U must be smoking some Trump Ganja if u seriously think that US offers equal opportunities for all.
??, well said.
??, well said.
This jubilee government has…
This jubilee government has killed a lot of Kenyans.
We all saw what happened to Miguna Miguna and he is a very prominent figure.
Especially NASA supporters-NRM supporters- they are being hunted down.
I wish all the asylum seekers success, in their quest for Asylum in the USA because that is a journey by itself.
Hehehehe I knew many Kenyans…
Hehehehe I knew many Kenyans who moved to Seattle n file as refugees lying that waligetcircumcised by mungikis 7 years later bado hawanjapata papers to travel thou they were given work permits?Its a big shame especially those many of them who call themselves born again Christians lying to stay in this country?I know 2 who stole money during moi time n 18 years on wako majuu working low jobs n they could have bin enjoying good life jamhuri if they never involved themselves from corruption juu wako 67/70 n they cannot torelate going back home juu watashikwa!For me I will advise pple moving not to burn bridges.
Why do they go to Seattle?
Why do they go to Seattle?
Mhalisi , whatever happened…
Mhalisi , whatever happened to Kenya the country where money is now growing on trees on plotis, red onions, and everything in between, $$$ is flowing like river nile and everyone is living nice and cuddly? . Why are people fleeing this cash cow that is Kenya. Why come to US where we slave and are miserable lots who have nothing to offer and live miserable lives? Ehh fafanua this trend tafadhali , so looking forward to your thoughts…………..
Formerly guest 2, it is…
Formerly guest 2, it is because the gains out way the pains/losses.If you are gay here, your freedom is pretty much guaranteed,without some homophobic homosapien wanting to crash your xxx
Where else can you find poor people who are over weight…?
Good question FG2, Mhalishi…
Good question FG2, Mhalishi will ignore it.
yes
yes
@formelyguest2 Hehehehe how…
@formelyguest2 Hehehehe how many Kenyans r fleeing Kenya???Last time I checked pple with cash who don’t want to pay taxes in USA were fleeing USA denouncing USA citizenship??I have said here if u have nothing in Kenya yes u can move to majuu n try to make some cash but if u have something yaani ur ok I will discourage many who r bin lied too that majuu is heaven.How many lecturers r in the USA who had drivers,house girls,watchmen owned their houses were lied by green cards moved to USA today they work in funny low places like nursing homes as cna,truck drivers,watchmen,Walmart’s n others have started their churches.Others gives excuses ati am moving juu my kids have beta future in the USA which can b true or gimmick juu how many kids have refused to go to college in USA or have become addicts???N I won’t denie they r positives happenings in majuu but for me if ur doing ok yaani ur in Kenya u don’t pay mortgage yr kids r in ok school,ur earning confortable cash,u can c yr wife n kids everyday n your pple trust me stay in Kenya??Majuu is for hustlers period?Majuu is good to make cash invest n pack yr things n come enjoy life in jamhuri where there is less stress.Its very disappointing when u see a wife or husband who left kenya 5/6/7/8/9/10 years n he/she haven’t gone back giving excuses of sina papers?Who said you have to bring all yr family there.After trying n it’s impossible invest n go back to them if u really really love them.Money is not everything my people!!Cheers
Well, some will paint a very…
Well, some will paint a very rossy picture of Kenya but the reality is GRIM!
1. Unless you like under a rock- wewe na bibi yako na watoto, you cannot dare ignore the fact that a majority of Kenyans are living a “good life”.
2. Those who have chosen to live under this lie and want others to join them in a “Kumbaya” song (I know it’s come by near btw) are those Kenyans who are sucked in so deep in the corruption and nepotism openly witnessed in Kenya or they are the cowards who look the other way in the face of impunity! Go back to the statistics and tell me how many Kenyans have been murdered or had their families threatened for speaking up. MORESO- It is IMPOSSIBLE for someone who has lived majuu even a couple of months to take the kind of crap witnessed in the country. Do you know that sometimes people really don’t mind working in warehouses and nursing homes etc, just as long as they can have PEACE OF MIND. Something most Kenyans can only dream of. Tell me, so you’re investing your money in Kenya?? How much have you been duped? How much has actually resulted into something tangible, like a life-long investment? How much are you REALLY earning from your investment without being shortchanged? With the rising and unstable cost of living how much money do you think you have that could sustain you without you making an about-turn and travelling outside the country to make more money to inject into an already failing investment? Are your relatives who struggle on a day-to-day basis giving you peace knowing that you have money? How about your health? Can you honestly rely 100% on Kenyan Pharmaceutical industry that is grappling with counterfeit medicine. Forget medicine for a minute how is your tea with mercury filled sugar? Are foods really upto standards especially in the city where most people eat vegetables grown in or next to sewers? How much lead are your children getting exposed to? Halafu unachapa mtoto unasema ni mjinga yet you make them eat foods filled with lead. Let’s talk housing- what is the standard of living. Who supplies your water and how consistent is it? Let’s go back to Health matters? Are the doctors and nurses qualified- or got certs from River road and who checks these people. Do you trust the people checking these qualifications? How do you like your nurse being grumpy because the government has denied her/him a pay increase promised more than a decade ago? Do you trust him or her with that syringe? Utadungwa bone ushangae!! So you may have navigated through all these because you can buy your way through all these things that more than 80% of Kenyans currently face. But madam ama boss, how are you enjoying being a rich person in a poor country? How much do you have to spend just to keep you and your family safe? How many people from “majuu” are a daily targets by thieves and gangsters and kidnappers. How about the rich people who have never left the country and have to switch cars or hide to get home or go about their daily businesses? Don’t you just miss walking home whatever time day/night majuu and all the priviledges that come with the knowledge that help is only three digits away(for those who’ve lived in the diaspora?) Women let’s talk, how happy are you that laws are stricter on men who would’ve seriously hanyad in Kenya with a string of children. How do you like child support, knowing that even if he walks away on you, lazima atalipa? How are you enjoying those tax returns?
– I mean the diaspora can be labeled whatever it is, but no one can convince me that I should invest majuu and invest in Kenya. Pick a side and stick to it. Unajenga nyumba Kenya nani aishi? Unafungua biashara, huwezi sustain, watu wakuibie left right and center ndio nini ifanyike? For those seeking Asylum I strongly advise you to. Kenyans problems will only end the day people from Central Kenya will decide to join hands with the rest of the country and vote out leaders who are literally killing our nation. Until then, enjoy the clean streets, enjoy the safety and security, enjoy the good “but expensive” healthcare system. Advance yourself, hapa hakuna holiday. Invest in the disapora. Let your children enjoy a good life, peace of mind. Let them explore and advance. Be open minded. Learn from other Kenyans and other immigrants. Put God first.
Hello Sizza.
Great article…
Hello Sizza.
Great article which tends to evoke a keen sense of sadness. Allow me to compare Kenya with a painted car full of a rust. No matter how you paint such a car, the rust( corrosion) will still reveal. The solutions to the problems you mentioned can not be solved by political marriages but rather a functional constitution. By this I mean a constitution which entails a capital punishment(Kunyonga wakora) and be implemented by a merciful dictator. I find it unbiblical to forsaken our brothers and our future generations. If Wazungus invest both in Africa and in their home countries, why cant we?. I support investing everywhere since it’s dangerous to carry your eggs in one basket. Lastly,studies have shown that immigrants who have chosen to stay and do donkey work end up suffering from chronic stresses and Vitamin D deficiencies. This has led to dysfunctional families, suicide and low life expectancy. Also, as we continue to put God first, it’s vital to change cultures in some of our churches.
I don’t think you should…
I don’t think you should call Kenya your nation. When faced with a challenge in the family, do you run away and blame somebody else? If you do, stay away and be quiet. Save your criticism for the country you have chosen to live in. Those of us who cherish our family and nation, let’s strive to make change, one person at a time! Trust God. He/She will guide you. Our leaders should move on, now that they are RICH, and let the young lead the nation, without foreign aid(mercury)
Hehehehe @Siza I feel you…
Hehehehe @Siza I feel you but let me ask you!So ru telling me with everything good in USA as u saifmd from good healthcare n jobs doesn’t mean I cannot feel sick or u cannot die???Lifestyle or living is mental or it’s the way u think?I don’t leave in Nairobi gated communities.I leave in ucha gichagi huko limuru Tigoni n security wise is good!It doesn’t bother us.So this bullshit of Diasporas ati bin nagged or targeted sinjui nini is just excuses??I got nagged in newyork broad day light with a gun but doesn’t mean ati newyork security is crap???So kenya kuna places mbaya here n there but it’s not bad the way Diaspora millionaire or do I say poor millionaire paints it??Yes it’s good to invest more in that place u have called home hata kama nimajuu juu u know u will b there for a long time but remember as u get to 55/60/65 u will feel that u need to go back home where u will retire peacefully at yr age.My point remains ur beta off in Kenya kama umenjipanga.Dont worry ati yr pple will b knocking in your hse to borrow u money if u return???Kila mtu mzima ako na maisha yake n ur not responsible on yr brothers n sisters especially if they r adults.We sometimes need to b like jungus where once u hit 18 ur somehow on your own but we Africans we carry buddens za watu wetu n that’s why ladies in Diasporas are hitting 34/35/38 n not married ati I have to educate my adults brothers n sisters even feeding some who r married n have kids?Mtu abebe msalaba wake.
Any of the majuu people in…
Any of the majuu people in this forum who can host me and allow me ve a taste of what it’s like to be abroad.I am very serious