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At this point in my life, I have lived outside Kenya more than I have lived in Kenya (by only a little bit). I've been lucky to come back often so I saw the country evolve quite dramatically in the last 16-17 years. And now, in 2021, I am now watching it regress dramatically.
To be transparent, I've lived both in Europe and the US. There is this delusion among Kenyans, and Africans in general, that the world is better on the other side. It's especially strong among Kenyans who have never left Kenya.
The reality is that yes there are opportunities there. Better pay. You can get by without being harassed by police. Being forced to bribe to make things happen.
Yes you can live without having to live through the trauma and harassment you might face here.
Yes you can live without having to live through the trauma and harassment you might face here.
You don't have to struggle for every single thing. You don't have to fight electricity cartels. You don't have to bribe someone at the county office to get permits. And you see where your taxes go.
But believe me when I tell you that we, especially Africans, are not wanted anywhere.
Well, Africans of people of African descent.
What do I mean by this?
What do I mean by this?
Wherever you go in this world, people react to you first based on your external appearance, i.e. the color of your skin.
It doesn't matter how educated you are. How worldly you are. How experienced you are.
You are first your skin color.
You are first your skin color.
I have sat in rooms with Europeans openly saying they don't want Africans washing up on their shores.
I have found myself fearing for my life on the German U-Bahn wondering if a crazy neo-Nazi might, in a split moment of rage, push me in front of on incoming train.
Yes, we know political meddling and imperialism are real. In part, external forces make it difficult to survive in our own countries. So the political question is not that simple.
And then there is the belief that if you move abroad, that's your key to prosperity.
But what you don't hear is there are Africans who are homeless in Europe. What we don't connect is if you are black (dark skin), there is a real risk of getting shot by the police. Because you are Black.
Let's not discuss the rampant abuse of foreign workers in the Middle East.
Yes, I know some of these are not African specific.
Yes, I know some of these are not African specific.
But the question so many want to leave but how many can actually leave? And where would they go?
Denmark is sending Syrians back to Syria. I shared that AJ tweet.
Denmark is sending Syrians back to Syria. I shared that AJ tweet.
So there is no assured permanence anywhere, even if you leave.
This is what the world has taught me.
So, what's the point of this thread? Other than the fact that we aren't really welcome in most places. I mean it goes without saying given how difficult it is for Africans to get visas to most places around the world.
The point is we have to make Kenya work for us. We have to demand a livable country. There is no other way. There are no shortcuts.
Every place has its good and its bad. And the solution isn't to go to places where we are not wanted.
Every place has its good and its bad. And the solution isn't to go to places where we are not wanted.
Of course you can refuse to be confined by this but it will not change how people perceive you or relate to you.
I know for many Kenyans it doesn't seem worth it and there is this feeling that things can't change.
But I look at Latin America and it gives me faith that things can change.
But I look at Latin America and it gives me faith that things can change.
Imperialist forces once meddled in Latin American affairs so badly for decades, putting in dictators, impoverishing millions...
But just the other day Bolivia returned an IMF loan with interest. The Chile of the Pinochet era is now alive with protest and civilian pushback.
But just the other day Bolivia returned an IMF loan with interest. The Chile of the Pinochet era is now alive with protest and civilian pushback.
We have to make things work for us here. And if not for us, we have to make it work for our children and their children.
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