Diasporans Annual Job Creation in Motherland Kenya
I have just returned from motherland Kenya after a one month visit, a country I left ten and a half years ago in pursuit of my dreams and hope for a fulfilled better future. I was last there in 2011. During both visits, I have observed clearly that Kenya as a nation is not only on the run in socioeconomically, politically and culturally but is in an extremely high speed run. I am proud of you all fellow Kenyans back there in the motherland. I was left in no doubt that if we in Diaspora do not work hard to keep abreast of and participate in what is happening back there, we will find ourselves misfits in all above developments. Kenya is fast pulling off from the Third World Status that we lived in, and knew of in our life back there.
While we may be lamenting investments rip offs and other misdeeds that we may occasionally have suffered from our kin and friends back there, we will, if not careful, find ourselves not fitting back there if ever our Diaspora homes one day become un-accommodating possibly due to old age or our inability to keep up with tight 24 hour economy demands in Diaspora.
I remain puzzled at many Kenyans in Diaspora who do not know that most radio stations in Kenya are accessible 24/7 any where in the world through the internet. Believe it or not there are those who dont know what Kenya Westgate 2013 was All about. Some are even unaware the ICC case against His Excellency President Uhuru Muigai wa Kenyatta was rubbished and thrown out on Dec 19, 2013. Such Kenyans do not know that radio stations like KASS FM, Inooro FM, Kameme FM 101.1 etc, etc, are just so readily accessible through this IT.
What pleased me during my two recent visits is the increased number of very hard working Kenyans down to craftsmen, artisans, farm helps and all others who are taking their jobs seriously and positively working with dignity and pride, provided they are not exploited. They are willing to be there daily on time on their given tasks and work happily, aware these days that money honestly earned knows no class. While some privileged Kenyans are trashing those in Diaspora as dish washers and toilet cleaners, What does that matter if from an honest such occupation one is able to put up a 3 to 5 star hotel back in Motherland Kenya or put up 5 story flats for tenants in Kenya, leave alone buying oneself a piece of land and putting up a retirement self contained bungalow?
What I found Importantly satisfying experience is : Work creation during visit drom Diaspora, regardless of duration of such a visit. If at least 40 % of the 2 million Kenyans in Diaspora head home once a year for even 3 weeks vacation and create work for 5 Kenyans during that short stay, that would be work for 4 million Kenyans in that 3 weeks. Add such phenomena to the Billions of KSh remitted annually to Kenya economy by those in Diaspora, that would be quite an added value to Diaspora status. I have tried this and I remain very happy for those faces I saw smile all the way to Christmas Day and beyond through work creation for them. Such work creation should go hand in hand with rural home projects material and moral contributions.
By Peter Kairia Ndethi
Comments
Thanks Mr Ndethi for highlighting and putting facts and reality to most of us who have lost hope in our relatives or friends who have "shown us dust" on many occassions. But truth be told: not all of them are untrustworthy. For us to move mountains, we should trust somebody, some people...sometimes.
One and the most important item that should be given priority, in my opinion, is ensure we have we have a roof over our heads, in whatever forms: somewhere we can call a home. The system here is scarely especially when reality dawns on us when bad or good things happens. There are opportunities out there where you could own something despite the mammoth of bills that knocks on our mailboxes time and time again.
I completely agree with your assessment. Kenya is on the move and changing very fast. I urge many Diasporans to take heed of Mr. Ndethis reasoned observations. I have been investing in Kenya over the past 10 years and now find myself cautiously pleased that I was ale to do this. We have a modest farm which employs 16 people permanently and 10 other casually, mostly women. We struggle at times to get the salaries but, most of the time, the farm sales, inlcuding milk, beans, potatoes, onions, chickens etc enable us to break even. Most important is that the pay out of more than 100 K economic trees over a period of 10 years beginning with this year will be well worth this investment.
Bw. Ndethi;
Thanks for the positive take on Kenya @50.
CORRECTION: The charges against Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta were not "rubbished and thrown out" as you assert. They were adjourned for 3months to give Ms. Bensouda time "...to complete efforts to obtain additional evidence, and to consider whether such evidence will enable my office to fully meet the evidentiary threshold required at trial."
http://www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/Bensouda-wants-case-against-Uhuru-adjourned/-/1064/2119292/-/q87kxt/-/index.html
The fact is, Kenyans have always been hard working and industrious. I think what has happened over the years and as the world has become a global village thanks to jet-travel and the internet is that some of us, including myself, have seen and experienced "best practices" in virtually all fields including good governance, sound planning and execution of policies, accountability and basically institutions that work. Speaking for myself, I hold myslf and my leaders to the very standards I am used to; having lived in the US for more than half my life.
Is that fair and realistic? Maybe not...but the global village/marketplace is not waiting for anyone.
If the US cannot get its fiscal house in order, China is waiting in the wings...If Kenya cannot rein in corruption and tribalism, TZ and Ethiopia are waiting in the wing. FYI: The latter just surpassed Kenya as the premier economy in the region.
http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/06/ethiopia_surpasses_kenya_to_become_east_
Hey,
I agree. I have some projects on the go in Kenya and I have seen the growth of the country move from one high to another.
When it comes to double digit growth. The twin issues of security, unemployment, inflation and public debt need to be taken care with high level of caution.
I think my take from this article is to rally Kenyan Diaspora to help Kenya become an African economic powerhouse.
I have no doubt Kenya has that potential. Now with this new found oil wealth. Kenya is about to take off on a serious speed. I urge all Kenyans in diaspora to take note of this. The pace of growth has accelerated.