A university professor is set to be deported to Kenya after living more than two decades in the United States.
Dr Mzenga Aggrey Wanyama, a relative of Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and who has been teaching at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is set to be deported to Kenya after his appeal for political asylum was rejected.
Dr Wanyama has been living in the US with his wife, Mary Namalwa Mzenga for 25 years.
“Well, what can I do? If they want me to buy my own ticket, I will do that,” he told the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune newspaper on Thursday.
On Friday, the scholar and his spouse held a meeting with officials of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to review their case and discuss plans for deportation. He will report back to the immigration officials next month to plan for his deportation, even as Augsburg University mount pressure on immigration authorities to spare him.
In a statement on Friday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the Kenyan scholar has been a pillar in the community and the region.
“No president, no federal agency will deport Dr Wanyama without a fight from me, from our partners in the state and federal delegations, and from the thousands of people in Minneapolis who share our values,” said Mr Frey.
Dr Wanyama travelled to the US in 1992 as a non-immigrant exchange visitor. His wife and children Billy Levin Mzenga, 30, and Billy Masibai Mzenga, 26 followed him in 1995. Levin and Masibai are, however, protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Their third son,19, who is currently attending the University of Minnesota, was born in the US and is a citizen by birth.
After his visa expired in 2005, Dr Wanyama applied for asylum, arguing that he would be persecuted in Kenya over an article he wrote in The Standard newspaper in 2004 castigating retired President Mwai Kibaki’s administration and praising Kibaki’s rival, Raila Odinga.
After hearing Wanyama’s case against his deportation, the court found that his testimony was credible to establish a subjective fear of persecution, but the judge ruled that the scholar failed to show an objectively reasonable fear of future persecution.
Augsburg University president Paul Pribbenow has joined supporters who fear that Wanyama is being unfairly targeted for deportation despite his many years as a professor and crime-free life in the US.
“Dr Wanyama is a role model for the professional aspirations and accomplishments of future leaders in our city and country,” Pribbenow told the Star Tribune, adding that “we strongly stand behind him and believe he should be able to stay in the US.”
When Mr.Trump was saying he…
When Mr.Trump was saying he’ll deport undocumented immigrants, we all thought he was talking about criminals l, but no one could imagine a person like Dr. Wanyama. A very successful black man, with a black family. Cleary this is a move to make america white again.
Are you saying if he was not…
Are you saying if he was not an accomplished “Dr”, you would have less sympathy? Sadly his refugee claims were not up to par on what qualifies for asylum and that is true from where I’m sitting . Now the good Doctor with his accomplishment should go and make changes in Kenya , contribute to shaping our students in universities and create partnership with University of Minnesota and Kenyan University of his choice. That is what his legacy should be. His kids are all grown . When nature gives you lemons , make lemonade. Trump like or hate him but at least he is fulfilling much of his campaign pledges for his base, that is what his base voted for him to do so. We trash our own govt for not making policies that betters Kenya, yet we come here to demonize Trump for doing what he was voted to do.
Don’t get me wrong, Sir, but…
Don’t get me wrong, Sir, but welcome home, sweet home. And remember, if you are to fight with ICE, fight it alone, otherwise using others to do so( in this idiotic Trump era)will make things worse. Also remember that when ICE points a finger at you, it doesn’t matter who you are, what you have contributed to American economy, who you know etc. They will still get at you. There are so many people I know who have walked that path and today are languishing in Jamhuri. And mghwas, start disposing your property pole pole: you need each and every dime here in Kenya.Change address as soon as now,including your Kenyan-born children. And stop banging, thumping and trumping your chest that you want to buy your own ticket. You need those dollars to help you settle down. And don’t go to ICE offices together with your wife like you are visiting your primary doctor: you will walk in there and never go back home. They will detain you for a couple of months and then one day you will find yourself at Heathrow airport on your way to JKIA. When we talk about investing or putting something in Jamhuri FOR A RAINY DAY, its because things do go wrong, whether you have makaratasi or not, whether you are healthy or not, whether you have money or not, etc. But I guarantee you that you are a hot cake in Kenya: you will surely get a job. And while you fight it out, be wise, do something behind the scenes: buy a house here, list that house, sell your cars, transfer your funds(if you have any, to prepare yourself for safe landing. Tell your children what to do if things go the other way. And something else Sir, don’t get worried about those articles you used to write about I don’t know what, hapa Kenya watu hawana shughuri. Warning! Beware of Kenyans, including your hawk-eyed relatives, because they will milk you dry with the false pretense of trying to help you settle, especially if you’ve been away for those 25 years. Settle somewhere you are not known or they will never know, if Luhya customs will allow it. Don’t be so confident that the mayor or whoever will fight it out for you. Huyo ni kuharibu anaharibu. Mjinga Trump akisikia vile meya anasema, ololo yaai. Like now stop thinking about your doctorates and degrees. Think about “What if.” And by way, start apllying for a job in this Kenyan universities especially UASU or Strathmore Universities, wanakuchukua ….pap. ICE has always been led by Republican racist officials, and when they have a racist president to back them up, my friend your baked. I pray for you sir. But start preparing yourself psychologically, socially, financially and emotionally in settling in the most disorganized, lawless, chaotic, thieves-infested country we call Kenya, but where you are guaranteed, kama ulijipanga mapema, peace of mind, quietness,stress-free, fatigue-free, bills-free, tax-free, emission-free, survival-free environment. Wish you all the best.
Hi Idavethi, miss your…
Hi Idavethi, miss your comments from the jambonewspot days. Hope all is well. I learned many moons ago the importance of a soft landing in Kenya. Met an African American who moved to Kenya ten years ago and has no desire to move back. Her comment to me was “US has the conveniences, Kenya has the freedom”. I highly recommend diaspora Kenyans to really rethink Kenya. I started in 2000 and have never regretted it.
Very true.
Very true.
Hi buddy. Yaah, I quit…
Hi buddy. Yaah, I quit blogging at Jambonewspot online newspaper but the owner, just like Mwakilishi, detested Swahili blogging, so I went under. Otherwise conglats for doing the do. Your wife is RIGHT. I can imagine the envy she gets from her black American race, where they work to survive, and some little criminal record, it follows them to their grave. The best thing in putting something for a rainy day is that its yours, unlike in the US where the feds will continue milking everything you buy many years after bought them. You continue paying for property taxes during the 30 years (mortgage) repayments period. Here…..ZERO. You buy a car and just when you think you are done, you have to pay for registration, emissions, and ballooned and exaggerated auto insurance, where you pay more than your car payments. Apart from paying for fair car insurance, the rest is ZERO. I bought several cars in US ranging from $8000-$15000 and I always wish I had buried those dollars here. America gives you the convenience of enjoying a fake life, living in illusions and in fake paradise…..until you lose that job. Ooh boy! Everything starts crumbling down like a deck of cards. Buy America built me, made me who I am in Kenya, and I thank her. This sweet freedom, sleeping like a baby when I used to sleep for 4 hours if I was lucky, is unbelievable. For those who want to stay put in the US or elsewhere, then invest there wisely. I know how difficult it is for somebody to make that decision to relocate or invest here. But let those things we read and hear from the media be a wake up call. If it could happen to X, well, well well.
I saw a guy who had lived in…
I saw a guy who had lived in the USA for 17yrs AND HAD A GREEN CARD, get deported for touching a 15 yr old girl’s boobs. He kept procrastinating on applying for citizenship. FYI, he was legally married to a white lady. That is when nilijua sijui.
Somebody courageous enough…
Somebody courageous enough should remind President Donald Trump that except for the Indigenous People of the USA who got a raw deal when uninvited immigrants came and settled in their ancestral lands from Africa, Asia, and of Europe, ” Any settler who does not have any genetic link with the Indigenous people, is a descendant of “illegal Immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Europe.”
President Trump is breaking families apart and yet the so called “evangelical Christians” are silent as children and American wives see their bread winner deported from the USA. It is wrong. My basic questions to the American Christians, “Where are you and why are you silent as President Trump continue breaking families apart on a daily basis?” If there is a day of judgement, you will have a lot to answer!!
I remember a Mexican at Detroit Airport waiting to board the plane after he was deported but had no criminal record, his American wife and children were sobbing uncontrollably! President Trump, God will not forgive you for breaking families apart through your impartial slogan, “Make America Great Again.” When was America great” During slavery? When women could not vote? What exactly do you mean? America has made tremendous human achievements in terms of minorities and women rights and I see you making America Dangerous again!
Somebody courageous enough should challenge Donald to use appropriate language in public. He used an inappropriate language when he called Mothers of NFL players a language that is so inappropriate that I cannot repeat it here.
I am challenging all the leaders of Africa to demand that he apologizes for calling the 54 countries of Africa including Haiti and Guatemala words that I cannot repeat here. I do believe on the Freedom of speech but freedom of anything without attaching it to “responsibility” does have innocent victims.
President F.D Roosevelt once said, ” Only Thing To Fear is Fear Itself.” I am challenging all Americans and the people of the world to challenge President Trump’s inhuman migrations policies.
@idavethi thank you for…
@idavethi thank you for saying all I wanted to say.I have insisted begged our pple to invest here for rainy day n stop worshipping this wazungus country’s yapping how they have papers or not,who belongs to USA or not,who is indigenous or not.The fact remain u can b deported whether u have papers or not coz u were given the papers u were not born there period.Yes this dude will get a job paying him good to survive better hapa home sweet home but kama hana investment yeyote kama kashamba then he will struggle a little bit renting high end units but atasurvive juu with his skills atapata wira.Guys let it b a lesson from many millions who r in uk,USA,Australia,Canada,Europe who have jobs but no papers n all u Do is eat everything investing everything there with false hope ati utapata papers one day which u can or not.Teremsha pesa hapa But house or plot through a bank if u don’t have anybody u can trust.I repeat SHIT happens in a refugee foreign country.Prepare n leave like a soldier.
@ formerlyguest2 is right,…
@ formerlyguest2 is right, his claim was weak. Huyu mzee wa mavitabu should hv applied for refugee status when Moi was prezo. He had 10 yrs to do so. Difficult to be granted refugee status during kibaki or uhuru eras unless wewe ni manzi under 23 na ulie unaogopa kurudi Kenya ju uta tairishwa ni maito ama shosho alafu uolewe ni kimzee kaa wife no. 4.
Got to be quick on your feet in the Wild Wild West when it comes to maratathi esp in that 1st year when you land. That said…
Mzee wa mavitabu if you’re reading this, where I’m from huko Ndondori ulipitia njia ya mashimo ya Karemeno,wazee husema if life gives you lemons become a hawker and start selling lemons.Take the profit, get a license from kanjo and become a lemon trader. Sell the lemons at a lower price than the prevailing market price. Build a company that sells lemons. Become an international lemon selling brand and very wealthy. Then make a glass of lemonade, relaaax and enjoy.
You will do a lot of good in Kenya shaping the minds of the skinny jeans wearing youth.