Dr Joe Karogi has been in the US for 35 years. He has seen the good, the bad and the ugly on the other side of the world.
Just like many other Kenyans who have lived in the US, he says life on the other side of the continent is not for the faint-hearted.
Dr Karogi has a doctorate in Counselling (mental wellness and addiction). He also has a degree in theology which earned him the status of a Reverend.
He is a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina together with his wife, Dr Mary Karogi – a high school teacher – and their two sons now adults.
Having been in the US and witnessing how fast-paced life is and the culture shock, Dr Karogi together with his wife and other stakeholders established Kenya Christian Fellowship in America (KCFA).
KCFA helps Kenyans moving to America in transitioning. Out of experience, Dr Karogi says this is very important in the US because life is different from that in Kenya.
“I saw it wise to have a way we as Kenyans who moved to the US years back to help other Kenyans moving to the US to get a soft landing whenever they come here because life and culture in US is different from that in Kenya,” he told Metha ya Kagoni YouTube show.
KCFA helps prepare Kenyan immigrants on what to expect and advise accordingly.
Dr Karogi who was born in Lari remarks that with the struggles in US, many unprepared Kenyans end up returning home with nothing to show for their stay abroad.
“The real hustling is in the US and I am saying that with a lot of respect. As much we see TV Coming To America, it is a real struggle.
“I have seen people who won Green Cards and they end up returning home because life is very hard,” he notes.
KCFA has 27 chapters since its birth in 1990 in Birmingham, Alabama. These local chapters spread through US States have strengthened it whilst advocating for civic needs for Kenyans in the US.
A year and a half ago, the organization purchased a 75-acre piece of land in Norlina town, North Carolina where it plans on putting up its offices.
It will also put up an international conferencing facility to create a new revenue stream to push it in the future.