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By:
HARRISON MAINA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted:
May,01-2017 01:47:50
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MALDEN, MA__Majority of Kenyan community members in Boston are hardly interested in engaging in community building activities other than those organized by their "own churches", small groupings or those that will lead directly to their own self gain at the expense of the general welfare of many youths aligned more with American culture than Kenyan traditions. The surprising revelation was made last Saturday by concerned members of the community attending the 3rd Annual Boston Marathon Kenyan Festival at the Anthony's Lounge in Malden organized by a partnership of the New England Kenyan Association and a group of Kenyans keen on celebrating the Kenyan culture in the region. At the same time, Kenyans in USA lucky enough to hold a Permanent Resident Legal Status (Green Card) were urged to use the privilege wisely to improve their lives and those of their immediate family members at this time before more immigration laws are changed in the wake of a hard-line immigration stance taken by new US President, Donald Trump. Addressing community members and children assembled for the annual feat, Kenyan born immigration attorney, Charles Wanjohi said that it is regrettable that many Kenyan Green Card holders are not taking advantage of existing laws to invite eligible family members in the motherland or in USA to apply for a visa or other benefits available to permanent residents in the country. "Immigration laws and regulations are changing very quickly today, whether by new directives or executive orders so people have to pay careful attention what they do or don't do. You need to stay informed all the time and take advantage of the existing laws to invite your people who can qualify now," he told highly attentive Kenyans gathered to celebrate their culture on the marathon weekend when Kenya is on the minds of most people due to their dominance in the historic Boston Marathon.
"A Green Card is a right, not a privilege. Use it well now when you have it because it can be taken away any time," he cautioned. Wanjohi said that in USA, one of the easiest ways to lose a green card is getting involved in situations that give rise to serious criminal convictions especially driving under the influence, gang activity and domestic violence. He added that currently, there are many young Kenyans sitting in jails across USA after being arrested with DUI issues and they will most certainly be deported after their release. "Immigration people hate DUI so much. I would completely avoid getting involved in such situations even when you hold a Green Card." He lamented that many Kenyans have lost a lot of money consulting with "immigration consultants" to try and figure out how to streamline their immigration status instead of consulting licensed immigration attorneys. "There is nothing like an immigration consultant. Most of these people who call themselves that do not have full knowledge and training on immigration law, so they will not give you the credible advice you need. Sometimes they will lead you into problems that would have been avoided if you consulted a licensed immigration attorney," Wanjohi added. However the attorney blamed the situation on lack of information among many Kenyans due to the hectic nature of life they live in USA.
He praised the group of Kenyans who organized the cultural festival that included information session on immigration and invited everyone to attend and seek answers as the right thing to do in the community. "This is a very good initiative the guys who organized this have done. People were able to come, socialize, a good time as Kenyans from different backgrounds as well as learn about immigration changes in the country. This should continue next time and everyone needs to support the effort," added the lawyer from Wanjohi & Muli Law headquartered in North Carolina but with an office in Downtown Boston. During the event, the immigration topic turned out to be a hot button issue, taking up most of the time allocated for speeches as many Kenyans sought answers as well as on other community issues. "Sorry for hogging the microphone, but I want to point out some important issues here that bother me. We know us Kenyans we are very self centered, we hardly think of others in the community as we think of ourselves. Many Kenyans who knew about this event did not show up due to selfish reasons. They said it looked "too churchy'" said Isaac Rurengo, of Kali Radio, shocking Kenyans present with the nagging revelation. He added that in addition to friends who did not want to attend the Kenyan festival as the advertisements indicated gospel performances would be on the menu, others claimed it was an event just for the Kikuyu tribe, adding another layer of unfortunate complicity in relations among the small community where many Kenyans have been badly divided into small tribal and religions groupings that hardly want to interact with each other.
"This is very wrong and too selfish. We should be thinking more on how to build a successful community like other immigrants do in USA and take part in such events like this one," added the young Kenyan. Despite open advertisements in all forums and networks by Kenyans in the region including church announcements, no member of other Kenyan tribes attended the event except for Kikuyus. Other Kenyans present lamented that the quality of social life for Kenyans in Boston has been very low due lack of a wide variety of social and civic activities that would bring people from all backgrounds together with a sense of an all inclusive community. "The reason this event has been so successful and satisfying is because you did not make it an all church affair. Let's call it as it is. Obviously the hot button issue here today was immigration. We love church but we also need diversity in our lives where we can discuss other issues," added Harrison Kamau, a.k.a Harry Ava , a Kenyan Radio Journalist with Voice of America (VOA). Waweru urged organizers to put together another event soon where people can have enough time to deal fully with the hot button immigration issue among other critical community problems. During the event, Kenyans were informed of the lost opportunities that have eluded them in the Diaspora due to lack of a unified civic organizational structure. Among them included failure to be recognized by former US president, Barack Obama who finished his entire two terms without hosting any organized Kenyan community group or children at the White House despite Obama serving as a very visible role model for young Kenyan- American born kids who would have benefitted psychologically at socializing with Sasha and Malia as kids of the first ever black president of USA in addition to the importance of his Kenyan roots. Other lost opportunities included the lack of access to state resources available for community organizations serving ethnic communities of color among them funds to hire teachers to teach children their cultural languages and exchange programs. However, realizing the lost opportunities, Kenyans present vowed to stay together and invite more friends to get involved in community building initiatives even as they continue to get involved in their churches and families. "I would like to thank organizers of this event that has brought us together to talk about different issues in our community. It's a very important event and may God bless you all," said evangelist Charity Maina, a gospel musician from Lowell before she proceeded to entertain guests with two gospel hits of her own composition.
In addition to entertainment by Evangelist Maina, Generation Esther Leviticus worshippers, a group of Kenyan young girls from the Christ is the Answer church in North Chelmsford and the new Faith Anglican church Bridgewater Sunday school children entertained guests with captivating performances. The event was moderated by George Kamau from Randolph who urged Kenyans in Boston to come out in large numbers when the growing group announces the venue for this year's Kenyan Madaraka day celebrations that happen around June 1. In addition to group member contributions, the event drew extra sponsorship from Ajabu Media and Mwanza Financial Services, both of Woburn, MA. Other Kenyans who sponsored the event with free advertisements included Kali Radio, Samrack Media, Jamhuri Magazine and Thuo Thuo Studios. Organizers are meeting to plan the Madaraka day celebrations with a free outdoor barbecue and an evening reception dinner party on Saturday June 3rd at a venue to be announced soon. According to recent census data cited by Boston’s WBUR Radio during a report on 2017 Boston Marathon where Kenyan runners swept the podium in style, there are about 5,500 Kenyan nationals known to be living in Massachusetts.
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Source:
AJABU AFRICAN NEWS
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