![Jeff Koinange on How Life is for Kenyans in the US [VIDEO]](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2017-12/1188336.jpg?itok=CYkEGZlN)
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Kenya's top media personality Jeff Koinange has painted a picture of how challenging life in the diaspora is, contrary to what many are made to believe.
Speaking recently during his morning radio show on Hot 96fm, Jeff and his co-host Jalango gave a break down of how Kenyans in the United States are subjected to high taxation, making it almost impossible to save anything at the end.
To further debunk the myth that life in the diaspora is a walk in the park, Jeff narrats that sometimes Kenyans are forced to work up to 18 hours a day and six days a week, with one only has one day a week to rest.
Koinange gives an example of himself when he worked at the McDonald’s in the late 80’s and how he took home a minimum wage of 8 dollars an hour. He says wages for Kenyans in the US are subjected to up to 50 percent taxation, that in addition to numerous other expenses.
Koinange hints that a times home is better than in the diaspora. Watch the video here:
Comments
What's nice about fabricated "facts", Madam FG2? Jeff Uongo Mtupu claims to be a journalist cum media luminary but can't even pull a reasonably researched documentary on actual American diaspora working lives?? Would be easy for him - lots of Diasporans in Kenya right now for XMas. He can easily find a few, say 2 jamaas, 2 ladies, make a small panel and it becomes interesting, right? But he's a half empty head and cannot think at this level (btwn, I am not trying to be personal with you, but I find you somehow interesting....hoping to bump into you one of these days)
That is my online persona , in real life am not interesting and it seems to me mwakilishi is leaking personal info here ama where do you intend on bumping into me? Time to get off mwakilishi
It's gat absolutely nothing to do with Mwakilishi, kabsaa. It's only that I have increased my presence in your neighborhood, sometimes spending up to a week around (biashara na shughuli). Lakini sasa ona ubaya wako - I simply expressed something brief & positive about what I think about you and you've already fled to the rooftops, even threatening to ditch Mwakilishi. Really? You can't describe yourself as "not interesting, in real life". Hiyo unawaachia binadamu wengine wakiwemo mimi....at least the mind behind your great command of the English language is REAL and INTERESTING, ama?
Good luck with your shughulis in DMV :-)( Is that an enough trail of a lead to have people put 1+1 = 2 he he he .... obviously we have some trolls who have been lurking in the darkness collecting info with their lonely lives and then turn around and accuse others , nothing but the best from me Mlachake, may that biashara grow and grow and then some
Btw this is a warning to Mwakilishi a btw thing but serious if you ever leak my identity or anyone else be certain to be slapped with a lawsuit and a hefty one - Just putting it out there
I like how people get here...give there personal info over time and the turn around to accuse Mwakilishi. We can chambua the lies and the truths over time and if one lives near you or knows you otherwise, they'll add up. Stop blaming, search yourself...or be careful what you let off about yourself. Ask me, I think you are somehow lonely and one who needs to be loved desperately....my opinion, no malice
Yes I'm very lonely and desperate to be loved, you nailed it!I was wondering what was ailing me all this time :-)
Ano - wacha upuzi ,it was never a serious threat priss, who has time for all that. You need to chill dude.ati search my self , where ? I'm not lost , why do I need to search me ha ha ha ha oh my goodness.
Why are you attacking this lady for no reason at all. You seem such a petty person . I have seen her here commenting and not once ever gave her zipcode. Mwanaume, DMV ni kubwa sana with thousands of Kenyans. Get a life!Plus where did her reply to Mlachake equate to love ... leave the lady alone , if you do not like her comments move on
@Anon- you sound like a creep who has been keeping tabs on binti here or how else do you say "search yourself and be careful on what you let on about yourself" . You , I hate to break it to you, you are the one being a creep , a serial online follower and not in a good way. Your statement hapa imenieleza kitu moja- wivu ama stalker.Unless wewe ni mwakilishi admin and has been keeping tab.
Well, what you are calling lies is fact fact fact. Been there got the T.Shirt. |The truth will set you free.
EXCEPT for the Doubtful 50% Tax, I like the way Jeff tried to ITEMIZE Monthly Expenses. This is Good "Food for Thought" for Friends and Relatives in Kenya who "Go Nuts" when they hear of a Person Making $50 and Hr in the US. As some people would like to say: What's EARNED in America is SPENT in America; Stays in America.
Mr Koinange how many Kenyans today in US do you know who are doing financially well? They have their own homes, cars including paying for their kids college, and baying cars for their kids. What you said was true, as a student you may work at Mcdanalds but every oe is not a student making minimum wage, there are people making over $30 dollars an hour, at an exchange rate of s100, that equates to s3000 an hour, that is more than what some people make home for a whole day. So when you paint a picture of a place so the good and the bad for better comparison.
Aii, where is tax 50%? Hyperbolic
This is really sad Mr. Koinange. A quick google search like avg hourly wage in us, avg cost of apt, would have shown that your numbers in the story are false. Where did you get your facts??. Nobody who makes $50 an hr works 18hr days, six days a week, etc.
Whatever credibility you may have had with me is out the window. SAD
But there are a lot of distorted facts though kwa hii salary breakdown ...
'late 80’s and how he took home a minimum wage of 8 dollars an hour' Uongo in 1980s minimum wage was not $8/hr.
In New York City in 1989, McDonalds wage was $9/hour. Yes, I am that old...Remember seeing that in a McDonalds window in Times Square....It was not the minimum wage, but they had to pay that much to get anyone to work in such an expensive place. Federal minimum wage was 3.35/hour in 1989. You had to pick your poison, earn more in an expensive place or earn less in a cheap place.
@Nani. When I came to USA the minimum wage was $5.25/hr. I have been here for a long time but not as long as you
If you need to know anything about minimum wage, Jeff will not give it to you. I hit the tarmac in NYC Sept 17, 1980. The legal minimum wage was $2.60. That was the year a doubledecker hamburger came into being and it was nothing more than 60c. A gas station selling unleaded at 68c was expensive. I remember filling my Mustang Ghia for $7.00.
Jeffs story is misleading and most fabricated. 50% tax rate is untrue. Most middle-class workers today part with 28%-32% ever since the first Bush made his historic proclaimation of "READ MY LIPS!"
If you need to know anything about minimum wage, Jeff will not give it to you. I hit the tarmac in NYC Sept 17, 1980. The legal minimum wage was $2.60. That was the year a doubledecker hamburger came into being and it was nothing more than 60c. A gas station selling unleaded at 68c was expensive. I remember filling my Mustang Ghia for $7.00.
Jeffs story is misleading and most fabricated. 50% tax rate is untrue. Most middle-class workers today part with 28%-32% ever since the first Bush made his historic proclamation of "READ MY LIPS!"
Then, as it is today, those making minimum wage, as a matter get back as refund just about every cent that was collected - sometime more if they take other benefits and deductions including non-itemized (automatic).
You are right. Minimum wage was 3.35 - 3.50 . I paid my tuition in College doing 3.50 an hour at night and 5.00 during the day at a golf club. I finished my double major in Maths and Computer Science in 4 and a half years. I am a computer engineer today and I have invested a lot back home to retire with no life style change. But Jeff, get your facts straight
that bit about 50% taxation is a lie. The tax you pay depends on your W-4 form. so not everyone will pay the same tax. Also you can also file for tax refund in the following fiscal year.
Yeah I heard that I was like eh doesn't it depend on your tax bracket, the # deductions, single , married, head of household etc...
Jeff was dead wrong. He based his facts on assumptions.
It felt like a joke listening to Koinange in this video; it seems the numbers he was spewing (50% tax rates or $50 per hour earnings as common) were for jocular rather than informative purpose. @Mwakilishi you should have a section for trivial and superficial stories, so we don't have to waste time sifting through un-researched analysis like these.
Wachana na Jeff, he is always more hype than facts type of a guy but it seems his audience love this hype.He based his narrative on a small segment of the Kenyans he has met somewhere in Kansas or wherever but there are all types of Kenyans doing all types of well paying jobs or not all over USA. First of , ati we live on credit, yeah some people who may want to live beyond their means but most people carry credit cards for emergencies and car rental. I'm so tired of the negative narrative that Jeff and others are peddling around about Kenyans in USA. Yeah perhaps Mwakilishi when you are not busy copying and pasting stories here, you should start your own investigative narrative and counter the narrative.!
This is the reason I avoid Kenya in December....lots of diaspora folks splashing cash and bar hopping. And, lots of hatred by local folks who claim nursing home employees have arrived. Jeff definitely should know better
He added too much chumvi, masala & mushene to that story. 50% tax? Is he talking about what the middrocrass might end up paying in the future with the new taxscam?
Jeff was not ready for this conversation. As usual he did not research and was just yapping away as usual. For someone who was diasporian once a upon a time I expected better...but then again what do you expect from the privileged
50% tax, 18 hours without overtime, rent 3000 dollars.this guy likes propaganda.
Highest tax rate is 36% if you make 250K a year.
Your tax goes a long way instead of a few people pockets.
Overall,if you are lucky to go to the states..get a good education and either go back to Kenya after your have your real certificates,nowadays everyone in Kenya has degree from somewhere or find a good job in the USA and invest home
Only those of low IQ work at Macdonalds. I recall even in college few if any white americans admitted to working at Macdonalds as it is the ultimate lowest paying job you can get.There are better paying jobs out there and they do not pay the same. Just one man with a biased view.50% tax rate is when you have your taxes done by a corrupt Nigerian.In realitu if you ae working at Macdonalds you do not make enough to pay taxes and most often will get a full refund a t the end of the year.
Ano. I never worked at MCds in the US but tafadhali wacha story; wacha tania. Huh? You mean Jeff (having worked at MCds) has or had Low IQ? Wewe una Zako.
@Anonymous. Some people get here with only the clothes they have in their backpack. They will take any job available. It is not a matter of IQ. Also it depend on the state you are in.
MacD jobs were usually a reserve of American kids ....jobs to train on work ethics and responsibility. A jungu once told me that immigrants had taken their kids gigs and called them jobs..and that now their kids didn't have enough training grounds.
Can Mwaura confirm that 90 p.c of his tax money pays salaries for nothing leaving only 10 p.c for development?Can he also confirm that 50 p.c of foreign loans is stolen by elite thugs led by his cousin jambazi Uhuru?Mwaura wacha uongo.50 p.c or more taxation is paid in Kenya not where i work.I know of many people including my wife who were jobless in Kenya but have two or three jobs here.Mwaura Koinange should talk of laziness by a few who would prefer stealing to hard work.KAENI HIVO HIVO NA MUNGU AWABALIKI
I think Mwaura should address FRUSTRATION OF LACK OF JOBS BY THE YOUTH IN KENYA-NATION today instead of speaking for me.My workaholic problems are not his business.Ata wewe wajifanya kale ka-boy,Ochuodho na yeye ni conman?But hongera to Ochudho for shs 500000 monthly conpay from jambazi Uhuru for nothing.Can you imagine Ochudho never leaves Karen but is paid the money for fake news?
Jeff grow up, talk about youth dying in kenya killed by police. Don't worry about people in US. Stop envy, with your low class, primitive wannabe talk show.
Correction...killed by Raila
Hey jefff. Your article has a lot of lies. Im a Kenyan in the us . Most Kenyan's in the us are making it. They are well informed and have gone through school. Your experience is based on hate and misrepresentation just because you got kicked out the US for misconduct....,
LOL! "Haununui furniture kila siku". Jeff is really wiring his colleague! It's all subjective and self restraint.
Jeff wacha ujinga with fake kiambu accent. Kubaff, bure kabisa
This predator is not qualified to talk about Kenyans in the diaspora...
This sex pest could not serve in USA.. We are here for years because we respect law and order;
Who told you that we are all McDonald Materials. We have thoudasad of Doctors, Engineers, Scientists, Nurses,Lawyers, and every other Professional that in your mediocrity can't convinietnly appreciate.
Jeff is an opportunist who rode on the back of gullible women. He cannt appreciate there are people in the diaspora whose survival depends on Intellectuality.
Diaspora is capable of telling its story
JKorig. Women (Sexual Aggressors/ Enticers) breed Men (Sexual Predators/ Harassers). Its time Women Aggressors/ Enticers) were Taken to Task about their Seductive Behavior toward "Vulnerable" men.
Aw, c'mon now guys! I don't think we need to be abusive. Loosen up! He was giving his experience (distorted or otherwise) and I don't think he meant to represent every Kenyan, just a little insight that it can be difficult. I found his narrative a little funny, not offensive by any stretch of imagination. I mean... car on loan, credit cards and hujakula bado! That scary tale is enough to keep those relatives always looking down their noses at Diasporas enough to think about before asking for that coin for Christmas. For those bashing working at Mc'D, you need to reflect hard. Such joints are a good start for the young fellas wishing to build on their CV's and earn some cash on the side. I have never worked in one, but I damn well started somewhere equivalent to that, so please, be real! Just as Jeff can't speak for everyone, if you have been fortunate not to start from the bottom, you have no right to speak for those who have, then label them as low intellects. The only irritating thing I found in this caption is Jeff's over exaggerated kuguruma, which I imagine he thinks is akin to that of Barry White. Really gets under my skin.
I'm surprised that Jeff had to work while going to school in us. Last time I checked his family own half of kiambuu county while I think he a great jaunalist he is not in touch with reality.
Hahahaha Mimimum wage in the 80s was nowhere near 8/hr. If he was making 8/hr that was pretty good in the 80s. Today in 2017 you can find minimum wage of 8/hr in some areas. Get ya facts right writer 🤔
Lies... No way it's 50% Tax or 8/hr min wage.
Jeff I agree with you there are a lot of Kenyans in the US that pump gas. However you forgot to mention that pumping gas is a regular job that requires no training. There are a lot of Kenyans earning big but comes with a sacrifice to go to school and avoid the snares of alcohol and the sought. However, I should mention that there are those who are stuck to low-wage jobs due to lack of status(permanent residency/citizenship) but given a chance they can do better. Tell full truth without impartiality.
Preach Simon Njagua! Right on!
Jeff 50% IRS tax really ?
Nice Jeff for bringing this reality to the masses..