Kenyans Explain Their Desire to Move to Canada

Kenyans have an inherent desire to move to Canada and other nations in search of better opportunities.

This is despite hearing about the struggles of their fellow citizens in foreign countries. This trend persists even though reports indicate that finding employment in these host countries can be challenging. During a Saturday event where SY Voyage Africa announced the acquisition of 100 visas, young Kenyans in their early twenties expressed their motivation for flying to Canada. They cited the difficult job market in Kenya as the driving force behind their decision to seek greener pastures abroad. One of the beneficiaries, Peter Wahinya Wanyoike, shared his reasons for pursuing opportunities outside of Kenya.

According to Wanyoike, finding a job in Kenya was not a walk in the park, leading him to seek greener pastures abroad. Wanyoike aired out his grievances over the Kenyan job market, stressing that one needs powerful connections to secure a job in Kenya. Wanyoike said he obtained his visa in just one and a half months, dispelling any concerns about being deceived during the process. He expressed satisfaction in his decision to take a different path and try something new.

Jeffrey Nelson Mutavi who has obtained a travel visa shared that he opts to travel for both professional and academic purposes, viewing it as a solution to the substantial barriers he encountered in landing a job without a higher education. His decision follows the firsthand accounts of stranded Kenyans who ventured to Canada in hopes of securing better prospects. As documented by the Toronto Star in August, frustrations have mounted for countless Kenyans who are stranded and unable to return home due to printing delays obstructing the issuance of visas.

However, those who are represented by SY Voyage Africa remain hopeful that their situation will be different. Canada reports that apart from individuals searching for employment, there are several other migrants who seek asylum due to the dangers they face in their home countries. Since January 2023, Canada has successfully reviewed and processed more than 60,000 asylum applications. As reported by Trading Economics, Kenya's unemployment rate has reached 5.40%, resulting in a staggering number of over 1 million Kenyans without jobs.