
Francis Kagema
@kagemafrancis
ID: 3212680498
27-04-2015 11:52:40
1,1K Tweet
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15/07/22 An open letter to the incoming US Special Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman Re: Delayed VISA appointments at US Embassy in Kenya My name is Dr Wala Amakove Elizabeth. I am a Kenyan medical doctor running a couple of start up businesses in Kenya. U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter

I do not have any future plans to relocate. One of my businesses is Wanderlust Diaries Ltd whose sole purpose is to promote Kenya to Kenyans and we have done it so successfully that Meta gave us a grant to scale it up. U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

In June 2022, one of my daughters (I have a son and Triplet daughters) qualified to attend The World Scholar's Cup Global Round in Dubai, a debate and creative writing competition. I scraped and scrounged and she attended the competition. U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

. Something that she had worked really hard for. I received immense support from my friends and even Kenya Airways, The Pride of Africa, to carry the Kenyan flag high while in Dubai. And carry she did! U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

So much so that she and her teammates from another school (she was the only one from her school) qualified for the grand finale called the Theatre of Champions in Yale, USA, to be held in November 2022. We all celebrated. She cried. U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

She had put in so much into this competition. When we came back, I immediately embarked on a journey to start the VISA process. I needed an invitation letter from Global Scholar's Cup which was sent immediately. U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

I needed specific passport photos. I then applied in the system for both of us. The total amount of money for the VISA was Ksh. 38,400 (~240USD) I had to borrow from one of the companies I run with my nanny to pay for it. U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

Lo and behold, the next available slot for an appointment then was May 2024! I was in shock. Of what use was this appointment when 1) the event was in November 2022; 2) The VISA fees are only valid for one year; U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

3) I have absolutely no intention of absconding my beloved motherland and my other 3 children and businesses. I was told to apply for an expedited appointment and I did. The response from the embassy was swift. Appointment denied. U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

I was told by friends to keep checking the appointment schedule for any opening between 11pm and 6am in the morning. that I could be in luck and get a 2023 date. What kind of life is that! U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

Dear Madam Ambassador, the embassy is making billions of shillings from Kenyans through this delays in appointments. I am not that desperate to get an American VISA. I know my daughter will be disappointed. U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

All I am asking for is a change in the system to 1) get people to pay when they are due for the appointment 2) refund the application fee to people like us who give up when given a 2 year date. This is simply daylight robbery. U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

I hope this letter gets to you. I know many other Kenyans whose plans have been scattered because of these delays and who are suffering silently. I don't suffer in silence. Yours disappointed and broke mother of four, Amakove Wala U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter State House Kenya

Amakove Wala U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter Is it about issue of staffing? We have so many unemployed Kenyans đ and Americans for that matter.đ Uhuru can hive off some part of Kenyatta University's land and even construct more offices for you! What's up?

Amakove Wala U.S. Embassy Nairobi Kenyans On Twitâter This is very unfortunate. Plain robbery.

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