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By:
Harrison Maina | |||||||||
| Posted:
Aug,15-2018 16:24:46
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Originally posted Aug 7, 2018. Updated Wednesday Aug 8, 2.51pm LOWELL, MA__During a keynote speech at the Ajabu Awards and 10 years Anniversary in Lowell last week, Kenya's envoy to the US, Robinson Githae lambasted "bad habits" that Kenyans brought with them from the continent to the diaspora which are causing stressful living conditions and creation of poverty while far from home. Among the bad habits he cited included poor time management, failure to send timely RSVPs to community civic events, driving while intoxicated, wife beating as well as women calling police on their spouses with the intention to have them arrested for flimsy allegations. He reminded Kenyans that America is a country of laws and violating the same has seen many culprits go to jail unnecessarily or curtail their professional advancements as bad records follow them everywhere they go in search of jobs. "When you don't RSVP for an event you have been invited for, it makes it a nightmare for organizers to figure out a good start time and end time. Some people come on time while others come too late. The problem is everywhere across Kenyan community in the Diaspora," the ambassador said. "Kenyans are said to be the best employees by many employers in USA. They do really professional work, always on time and with great attitude. But when it comes to their own community civic events, they are very poor in attendance.This needs to change," he added while urging event organizers to start events on time whether people present or not. We need to stop this bad habit. The ambassador said that it was regrettable that some Kenyan men in USA are still practicing wife beating at home during domestic disagreements, a vice that has seen many culprits go to jail or recorded messed up with domestic violence raps. "Let me tell you my friend, if you are in USA, never put your hand on your wife. This is an outdated African tradition that needs to go. You can find some better ways of resolving conflict without resorting to wife beating," Githae said.
However, the ambassador cautioned that reports have also reached him that there is a good number of Kenyan women who were taking advantage of tight US domestic violence laws to tag their husbands with fake abuse claims with the intention of having them arrested and removed from their homes for selfish motives. "When you pick up that phone and lie to the police so as to have your husband arrested for minor issues, you cause severe problems to the entire family. I am not condoning domestic violence where it happens, but there are some minor disagreements that you should not be calling the police seeking to have your husband arrested," he advised. He wondered why Kenyans who end up drinking more than the legal limits during parties are not using cheap ride sharing companies like Uber to get home if they must leave. "We have cheap Ubers everywhere these days. This is no like back home when you drank and let the car find its way home for you. If you drink too much, why not call one to get you home only to risk the problems of DUI arrests that can lead to your deportation," he said. In addition the ambassador said it was regrettable that a good number of Kenyans in USA have resisted purchasing life insurance and short-term disability products that are crucial to protecting families in situations of death or unexpected disability of a the bread winner. He said that life insurance and disability insurance is usually very cheap and widely available, but it beats logic why Kenyans don't want to make use of them hence causing a disaster within the community when a person dies or can't work anymore due to illness. He also blamed the current inexplicable resistance to purchase life insurance to rising levels of poverty among Kenyans and Africans everywhere since they do not have any significant money to leave their children when they die. "In the Kenyan community, when you lose someone or a breadwinner can't work due to sickness, it becomes a disaster to the family and entire community. It does not have to become such a disaster if everyone purchased life and short-term disability insurances. Its only Africans who leave their families poorer when they die since they never purchase life insurance," lamented the envoy currently serving his second term in Washington. "I hope we can all change these bad habits so as to improve the quality of living while here and for the sake of our future generations," he added. Prior to the main event, Githae held a private business meeting with 22 members of an all-African Diaspora Investment group started by members of the Ajabu Diaspora Network think tank that seeks to find solutions to social- economic and political problems faced by African immigrants in USA. He urged the group to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the recently unveiled Uhuru Kenyatta Big Four Action plan for Kenya that includes Affordable Housing, Enhancing Manufacturing, Universal Health Coverage, Food Security and Nutrition. The envoy urged Kenyan pastors present to be in the forefront of causing a positive change in the community as a departure from the past. "I challenge all the pastors here as leaders in the community to start a movement for change. A good change can start from this small meeting right here." Guest were shocked by the revelation from the president of the Kenyan American Pastors' Fellowship Association, Dr. Charles Karanja there is a current epidemic of Kenyan youth in American jails for DUI offences and drug abuse. This, according to the pastor, has also led to severe homelessness among many Kenyan youths in Boston. "It's a very serious problem. I receive all these reports from many people and they expect me to help solve. I can't do this alone. The whole community needs to come together and find a solution," he added. Rev. Njuki said that there is a prevailing serious problem of division among churches and church leaders that is finding its way to the general public. "It is not right or fair. God is a God of unity not divisions," he declared. | |||||||||
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Source:
AJABU AFRICAN NEWS
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