By Thuothuo Anthony- Jamhuri News
If you have been to a Kenyan church, either in Kenya or in a foreign country, you certainly have experienced the solidarity and loyalty that goes on between religious leaders. You have obviously witnessed the never-changing tradition where the host, regardless of the availability of time, has to recognize in honor, other religious leaders present as well as their spouses. This happens regardless of their denomination, affiliation or even history between them. They don’t stop there, they offer a moment to greet congregants and mention the church or religious group they represent. No, this is not called campaign, this is loyalty. This is unity and congruity that those of us who congregate outside religious settings need to emulate.
Nobody makes it alone. It is more challenging when you don’t even have a platform to showcase that spectacular talent, exquisite recipe or your entrepreneurial prowess.
In the Kenyan diaspora community, we have seen hundreds of gospel singers starting from the bottom, and prodigiously becoming the crème de la crème in their respective categories of art, as well as religious service. Actually, many pastors and other religious leaders started as gospel artistes. We recognize them in public events, and offer them their well-deserved five minutes promo to promulgate their talent or even sell one or two DVDs.
In these same communities, we have other very promising talents and callings. We have world-class chefs in our midst; talented secular artistes like Boston’s CEO trio and Busyclass. We have Certified Public Accountants, who have opted to change careers because their startups have struggled too long to take off in the local market.
What if as a community we adapted our religious leaders’ paragon, and started plugging our own entrepreneurs during public events? It takes just a mention, and our young ones would possibly be motivated, and grow up with more role models than they know today. Our community would produce more independent professionals as it has produced more pastors.
When Equity Bank CEO Dr. James Mwangi and the team visited Boston in December 2016, the whole community was immensely zealous, sharing stories and successes of our diaspora community with the cohort. The confusion, however, was that majority of community members learned of what their fellow diaspora entrepreneurs do during that same event.
The Kenya Government has made significant efforts to exploit and strengthen its relations with the Diaspora; encouraging engagement in various developmental sectors. This evolving engagement of the Diaspora would become more fruitful if the diaspora operated harmoniously.
The majority of successful businesses in the diaspora, especially those in healthcare and transport sectors have upheld solidarity in the community; employing thousands of Kenyan professionals.
Each Kenyan in the diaspora should, at their own will and convenience, become a mandated promoter of the community. This way, we shall all flourish in one accord.
