Leadership in Kenyan Community in Boston

Jambo! How is the weather treating you today?
Is it dusty and hot , wet and muddy or is it slitting and freezing in your area?

First let me point out that most people who live in Massachusetts always identify with the Capital City, Boston. I guess the city is more famous than the state. Most Kenyans who live here do not live in Boston but in other cities such as Lowell, Lynn, Worcester, Salem, Quincy, Malden and so forth. Some of these cities have a lot more Kenyans than others. In Worcester for instance, I gather that about 7,000(that's not an official number, you can only imagine how hard it would be to count) Kenyans live Worcester and about the same number in Lowell. Other cities have a good number of Kenyans too.

With such large numbers of community members,  there is need for representation, consultation, celebration and consolation for occasions that call for that. So where do Kenyans living in Boston go? aha! I hear one of you say church and am not surprised.

As a community, Kenyans rarely gather together for Community Building events. In other words to they do not participate in local city or state affairs. This is a case of lack of leadership. Of course there are  many individuals who do take part in these affairs as individuals due to either job or school related interests. To clarify let me give an example; If there is a cultural event at the City hall or at one of the local Universities, the planners have nowhere to call if they want to have a Kenyan stand or information table. For the most part, most city officials are aware that there is a large Kenyan community in the cities, and that they do well in supporting each other in times of need.

The good part is that there have been ongoing efforts to start a Kenyans organization in this area. It is quite unfortunate that any efforts to start an organization are thwarted by selfishness, superiority complexes and power or money greed. Whenever one is started its immediately faced with bickering and heated arguments and soon it is buried in an unmarked grave.

The leadership of the Kenyan Community has now been left in the hands of local Kenyan church leaders who have the front in gathering people especially during times of  trouble such ailments, immigration problems and death. This has remained the only one sure way that Kenyans come together to solve the pending matters. Well, the local Kenyans church leaders have their own  shenanigans too that I do not wish to get into.

It is a shame that this has not happened and does not seem to be progressing anywhere. I believe that is is possible to start one if the right people are picked by all the people. Nobody should be left out if one united  front is to be formed.

The challenge to the Kenyans in Boston is;-

1. Agree to pick their own leaders to avoid imposters and imposers who rise out of nowhere and declare that they are the who is who.
2. Participate in picking their own leaders by taking the iniative to know who can make good leaders and vote vote vote. Do not sit in limbo and cry bloody murder when you are left behind.
3. For the leaders who are elected, learn to work with everybody and learn how to keep your word.
4.Forget about selfishness and serve the Community. Being named a leader does not equal hitting the jackpot. Get rid of the KANU Ugali-eating-disorder that still ails many who grew up in the nyayo era.

I wish to close by sending you a link that i hope will awaken  you to rise up and do something positive about building our community living in Boston.

http://www.ajabuafrica.com/Charity-Differences%20of%20opinion%20cause%20delay%20of%20donated%20hunger%20funds%20remittance.html

Ahsante!