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.
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
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.
Replying to @USAmbKenya
INTERESTING TO SEE YOUR ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO DENY VISA TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.
AMBASSADOR KYLE MCCARTER
✔@USAMBKENYA
APPLICANTS ARE ELIGIBLE OR NOT. QUALIFICATIONS DO NOT CHANGE.
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@Princenzee
AT LEAST YOU GAVE THEM HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT
WHAT HOPE?? DENYING YOUNG KIDS VISA TO GO COMPETE IS BAD
AMBASSADOR KYLE MCCARTER
✔@USAMBKENYA
THEY ARE CHILDREN. YOU DON’T KNOW THE SITUATION OF THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS. WE TAKE ALL CASES SERIOUSLY.
Kenyans angry after US Embassy deny innocent School Kids visas
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
Red@RookieKE
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
WHY 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!!!
#AintNobodyGotTime4ThisSh*t@yourspenfully
Replying to @USAmbKenya
JEEZ WHY DID YOU DENY THEM VISAS? THEY WERE ONLY GOING TO PLAY CHESS & RETURN? OR DID YOU HAVE REASON TO THINK THEY WOULD GO UNDERGROUND DESPITE THEIR YOUNG AGES? SAD SAD.
#AintNobodyGotTime4ThisSh*t@yourspenfully
THIS HAS MESSED ME, LIKE ITS ONE UPDATE I COULDNT HAVE LIVED WITHOUT. PLUS NOT SURE IF THEIR PARENTS WOULD APPRECIATE THE PICS OF THEIR KIDS ALL OVER THE PLACE. MAYBE YOU SHUD HV SOUGHT THEIR PERMISSION THE WAY YOU WUD IN USA BUT OF COURSE ITS AFRICA AND ALL RULES CAN BE BROKEN.
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@MuteheliKevin
WISH 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.
Mr McCall@KenyanExperien2
Replying to @USAmbKenya
NEXT TIME THEY MAY GET THE VISA— I HOPE. IN ALL HONESTY, IT SEEMS TO ME, THE ACTUAL DECISION TO GRANT OR DENY A VISA IS DETERMINED EVEN BEFORE ONE STEPS FOOT INTO THE CONSULATE.
AMBASSADOR KYLE MCCARTER
✔@USAMBKENYA
NO THAT IS NOT THE WAY IT IS. THERE ARE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES TO MOST CASES.
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.
Bebe Nyakadina@Nyarkadina
· 20h
Replying to @USAmbKenya
LET THE EMBASSY ADVISE CLEARLY TO ENABLE ONE WORK ON THEMSELVES AND ONLY RE APPLY OR APPLY ONLY WHEN THEY MEET A STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.I.E FINANCIALLY, SOCIALLY ETC
AMBASSADOR KYLE MCCARTER
✔@USAMBKENYA
I AGREE WITH YOU. IF WE MAKE IT CLEARER HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WILL APPLY AND BE SUCCESSFUL MORE OFTEN.
by Jael Keya
-kahawatungu.com
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