[Dhe_Man]

The statement could be a generalization but honestly there is a lot of truth to it. I am not saying all Kenyans abroad as Desi puts it are hypocrites but there is a tendency by many to portray land outside Kenya as heaven while it is not. I am a victim of the few who lie about abroad in that when I try to tell folks back home that life is not as easy as people make it sound to them. Sometimes they think that I just don’t want to help them and therefore use the excuse of how people say life in US is easy.

Easy !! I don’t think so, but I will agree life in America can be a grand if you work hard for it. AND yes there are very many Kenyans Abroad who are doing extremely well. Some could not have amounted to anything if they were in Kenya but are on top of the world now. If I were to do things all over again I would not change anything. I still prefer to be in US than in Kenya.

[kimdigital]

Who is (.-tting) like this...... ulikosa visa ama nini...wacha machungu.. maybe its coz you couldn't spell the word 'TOEFL'.... baadaye

[swiftybeast]

>The statement could be a generalization
>but honestly there is a lot of truth to
>it. I am not saying all Kenyans abroad
>as Desi puts it are hypocrites but there
>is a tendency by many to portray land
>outside Kenya as heaven while it is not.
> I am a victim of the few who lie about
>abroad in that when I try to tell folks
>back home that life is not as easy as
>people make it sound to them. Sometimes
>they think that I just don’t want
>to help them and therefore use the
>excuse of how people say life in US is
>easy.
>
>Easy !! I don’t think so, but I
>will agree life in America can be a
>grand if you work hard for it. AND yes
>there are very many Kenyans Abroad who
>are doing extremely well. Some could
>not have amounted to anything if they
>were in Kenya but are on top of the
>world now. If I were to do things all
>over again I would not change anything.
>I still prefer to be in US than in
>Kenya.



well said.

swiftybeast

[Desi]

Poleni wanaKenya, damn where is the patriotism when we need it. Nonetheless, I guess I should have included the word some, most, a portion, take your pick sorry for the miscontrued notion. I still think people in Kenya have a very misguided opinion of life overseas. Is it asking too much to tell the truth to those back home. Maybe this will help curb some of the euphoria image people hold, and hence reduce the mass exodus of young, able bodied Kenyans who think if they don't leave Kenya they are doomed.

[mzeemzee]

Perhaps you should spend more time thinking about yourself and those you love and leave the rest of the Kenyans be. Its their loss if they choose to live a lie. But you are no better if you choose to spend time critisizing the lost.

Oh, and as my swa teacher would have said,
Pilipili usioila yakuwashiani?

[Wretched_Kenyans]

I think Desi has a point. Rather than focusing on spell check concerns it is necessary to closely take a look at the claims being raised by this post.

Most Kenyans abroad tend to adopt a very snobbish mentalities and assume certain bifurcated forms of identity that de links them from the social realities that produce them in the first place. They transfer a utopian vision of who they are just because they crossed to this side of the Atlantic.

Of course we all know that there is a cost to this imagined prestige that some people show of when we go back home for holidays. I know of people who have been to the states for years and are stuck, while longing to go back home they still display a false pride of being in America.

This attitude seems to be more prevalent among people who come to the States and Europe than those in Asian countries. It could be a very interesting study in the sociology of Identity and migration patterns.

[waweru]

There is an issue here. And I think it is 2 sided. Alot of Kenyans based in Kenya do NOT believe that life can be difficult in Europe or the US. Even if you tell them, they still think that there are easy pickings abroad.

The only reason I would encourage Kenyans and other Africans to travel abroad is only so that they can broaden their horizons and see how other societies are run. Then they would probably stop giving so much leeway to foreigners in their own countries.

[Desi]

I can't apologize enough for the misconstrued inference. But the reason why I raised this issue was, over the weekend I met a chic who just come from Kenya a while ago. She sadly informed me that the majority of kids graduating from high sch. have every intention of getting out of Kenya. The reality is not everyone will and some will have to remain. Hence if we were to encourage those in Kenya to stay and maybe think of alternative ways of solving problems instead of encouraging an exodus with fake promises. Aren't we the same crowd that always expressing symphathy towards a brethren back home....

[Ice]

Problem here is that you generalised too much. Some of us never skipped a day of school when we were in school. Now that that part is done, the future looks brilliant. And to be honest, there are people in Kenya who probably make more money than I do, but watch the word probably here, but they are very few. The difference is their spending is not as immense as mine but still, I dont live in fear as they do. I been there, done that, seen it all, done shenzi stuff but still admitt that chances of making it are more here than in Kenya.Here, you can do whatever in Kenya, it's who you know!

[Sweet9]

Desi,

You need not apologize. The fact of the matter is that indeed some and perhaps most Kenyans abroad, mis-inform people back home by implying that the state are a 'heaven' compared to life back home. True life in Kenya is something else, but so is while living in the states, especially the first few years when you get here and know few or no fellow Kenyans to help out some. Desi has a point and it wouldn't harm to acknowledge it.


Keeping it real ma peoples, keeping it real!