My desire to study abroad as a teenager was dashed when I was denied a visa to travel to Canada on a scholarship.
As the great Nelson Mandela once stated, “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” However, I was unable to obtain one because I came from a poor family with no name recognition, and my family believed I would leave for Canada and never return.
At the embassy, they threw my documents back at me disrespectfully, causing me to cry. From the security guards to everyone who served me, I had a terrible time.
The visa process is a colonial system designed to maintain the status quo, in which the poor will always be poor and the wealthy will always be wealthy due to their bank accounts. The wealthy will always travel and enroll their children in schools abroad.
I did not give up. I recalled the words of Marcus Garvey: “If you don’t have confidence in yourself, you are twice defeated in the race of life, but if you have confidence, you’ve already won before you’ve even begun.”
I had a second chance to study in the Netherlands, and this time I was smarter; I borrowed someone’s bank account to apply for a visa to prove that I could afford to live in the country, but I was once again denied. People I’ve encountered told me that being poor is worse than committing a crime.
Once more, I was awarded a scholarship, this time in the United States of America. The visa application procedure was also not straightforward. Imagine, as a student, being required to wait months or even a year for an interview. In Kenya, you may lose the opportunity and be left without hope.
After completing my studies in the United States, I returned to Kenya to continue building my organization, Shining Hope for Communities, which is now recognized worldwide, including in the United States. Later, I applied for the renewal of my visa, which also took a considerable amount of time.
So many hopes are being dashed. These nations have the right to deny us visas, but we ask that they do so with respect, taking the time to listen and avoiding a colonial mindset.
There is a glimmer of hope, as we have witnessed at the US Embassy in Kenya. Meg Whitman, the new U.S. ambassador to Kenya, instituted a number of changes in less than two months to expedite the visa application process.
After the embassy updated its website to reflect the same, individuals applying for visas were able to view interview wait times until their next appointment.
In addition, the website clearly displays the types of non-refundable fees, allowing Kenyans to make informed decisions prior to submitting an application and paying the associated fees.
The US Embassy has also implemented a visa renewal process that does not require in-person interviews of applicants. This change applies to Kenyans whose visitor (B1/B2) or student (F) visas have expired within the past year.
The embassy also introduced expedited appointments for emergency situations, such as the death of an immediate family member, the need to travel for urgent medical care, and for students whose programs begin within 30 days and who will suffer irreparable harm, such as the loss of a scholarship, if they are unable to travel.
It took a strong woman like Whitman many years to change the colonial system, and the United Kingdom Embassy has followed her lead by ending the lengthy wait for their visa.
Kenyans do not beg, but they do ask to be treated with respect. A person from a slum in Kenya does not seek favors, but rather dignity. A girl from a remote village in the Rift valley asks for nothing more than respect.
It is encouraging to see that the current regime has taken note of this, and I would like to commend President William Ruto for quickly reaching an agreement with the South African government that allows Kenyans to enter the country visa-free.
This is how one establishes strong diplomatic relations involving no anger. Having easy access to such opportunities deters youth from joining criminal and terrorist organizations like Al Shabaab.
We can silence the guns if we allow people from different countries access to opportunities within our borders. We must treat people with respect and affection.
