Kenyans angry after US Embassy deny innocent School Kids visas to visit US
US ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter has angered Kenyans online for sharing a photo online with school kids after their visa applications were denied.
Sharing with his followers, the ambassador noted: “In the visa line yesterday I met this fine young boy and girl. They are Kenya Chess Champions!
“Although a trip to the US was not possible this time I reminded them that They Are Champions & we are friends! This is the future of Kenya,” he captioned.
In the visa line yesterday I met this fine young boy and girl. They are Kenya Chess Champions! Although a trip to the US was not possible this time I reminded them that They Are Champions & we are friends! This is the future of Kenya. #USAmarafiki
His caption, however, did not augur well with Kenyans who pointed out that McCarter should have aided them to acquire their visas as opposed to “parading” them online.
When bashed for having his Embassy deny innocent Kenyans visas to visit the US, the envoy was haste to note that the qualifications for the applications are constant and do not vary from a person to another.
Whereas some netizens applauded him for giving the children hope for the next time, others disagreed affirming that they needed the visas, not hope.
Ambassador Kyle McCarter
✔@USAmbKenya
In the visa line yesterday I met this fine young boy and girl. They are Kenya Chess Champions! Although a trip to the US was not possible this time I reminded them that They Are Champions & we are friends! This is the future of Kenya. #USAmarafiki
Prince charles ,throne heir@PrincenzeeAt least you gave them hope and encouragement
Here are some of the reactions:
Ambassador Kyle McCarter
✔@USAmbKenya
In the visa line yesterday I met this fine young boy and girl. They are Kenya Chess Champions! Although a trip to the US was not possible this time I reminded them that They Are Champions & we are friends! This is the future of Kenya. #USAmarafiki
Was the trip “not possible”, or did you deny them a visa? Then you use them for social media clout?
Ambassador Kyle McCarter
✔@USAmbKenya
In the visa line yesterday I met this fine young boy and girl. They are Kenya Chess Champions! Although a trip to the US was not possible this time I reminded them that They Are Champions & we are friends! This is the future of Kenya. #USAmarafiki
joji poji@jojeepojiWhy were they denied visa that wud have facilitated them represent Kenya in the tourney? And why tell us that they were denied…case of rubbing it in!!!
Ambassador Kyle McCarter
✔@USAmbKenya
In the visa line yesterday I met this fine young boy and girl. They are Kenya Chess Champions! Although a trip to the US was not possible this time I reminded them that They Are Champions & we are friends! This is the future of Kenya. #USAmarafiki
kevin muteheli@MuteheliKevinWish in one of your crisscrossing of the city schools you pass by the slums where there’s no uniform, no desks, no writing materials, lack of food back at home, kids have to sleep on the floor in a mad house, girls missing school cause of lack of pads.
Eventually, Amb McCarter responded to almost all questions raised and promised to have the embassy clarify on some application processes so as to avoid Kenyans experiencing visa rejections.
Maybe denying them Visa is good to the small innocent Kenyans for they were applying visa to visit a country still undergoing discrimination tendencies that would have shocked them. Let them grow up and come the same way we did prepared to face the ills of discrimination. Keep playing chess