INDIAN KENYANS: TIME FOR INTEGRATION IS NOW:

I would like to take this opportunity to invite Indians living in Kenya and Kisumu in particular to join other progressive forces in Nyanza and share their knowledge with locals on matters relating to investment and development in the Jimbo. As you may be aware, many Indians in Kisumu are involved in both small and big businesses thus playing a leading role in the economic activities of the Jimbo. Despite this fact, majority of Indians in Kisumu are into themselves, they are not well integrated into the local society. It is sad to note that, over 100 years have passed since their arrival yet they remain a very closed society, only associating with high flying government officials i.e senior police officers, senior revenue officers, power wheeler dealers etc. Given their manipulative and deceptive nature, the Indians have perfected their game and are in class ahead of their own when it comes to dubious contracts involving public funds. Endowed with placid outward, you can only guess why every Abonyo smiles sarcastically when an opportunity to see a government official comes by.

The lack of social interaction by the Asian Indians with the locals in Kisumu must now be addressed sani. The trend of living in separate zones, separate clubs and sending their children to separate schools belongs to the colonial days and not now. They also have their exclusive clubs where locals are not allowed to be members. The Asian Indians don’t' intermarry yet their men with extra ordinaire sexual appetite can easily buy local girls and women. Some even use this as requirement before employing a local woman. On the contrary, Indian women are not allowed to practice their fundamental basic human right, the right to choose who to associate with. Furthermore, Indian parents do not want their children to interact socially with those of other races because of the Hindu belief in keeping to one's caste in social matters. My Indian brothers and Sisters, you have been in Kenya for over 100 years but still can not trust the local population.... Is this really progressive and does it make sense???? You don’t' value the locals yet they are the source of your wealth.

This is a big problem that must be thoroughly addressed through a constructive dialogue. We live in a modern age therefore don’t need to resort to crude means to engage you with the locals. Integration is a keyword everywhere i.e. in USA, UK, Canada, EU Countries, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia etc. In most of these countries, you have to speak the local language and learn the local culture. Once you have opted to study, work, or do business in a foreign land, you have to respect your hosts and learn a few tricks in order to be relevant. It is therefore requisite to do away with some of your culture to fit into your new countries culture. In Kisumu, Indians do away with all these and still can manage to go on with their business due to inefficient governance system.

I fail to understand why in Africa we are yet to fully come to terms with the changing trends on international migration. The Kisumu Indians can decide for themselves the best road to take. They can do it voluntarily now before integration clock tickles far-flung.

William ODuor

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"I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action." MALCOM X