Lucy currenty in Dallas, Texas planning to contest a seat in Nairobi County.

“To us, they will always be foreigners and no way can we let our country be ruled by foreigners. How sure are we that they have not acquired the mindset of colonialists? It will be a tragedy if we go back to the colonial era just because we seek change, just like Obama, we too can do it, we do not need outsiders,” is an opinion by a Kenyan who would like a Kenyan born citizen who have lived abroad not to present themselves for consideration in the 2012 elections in a survey with 1,100 responses from Kenyans in 5 counties: Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Nyandarua and Nyeri.

The survey reveals an overwhelming desire by Kenyans in Kenya to see Kenyans in Diaspora become part of the competition 2012.  1050 out of 1100 responses show that Kenyans welcome, support and would even join up with the initiative led by the Diaspora 2012. However there are pockets of Kenyans who fear competition, would like Diaspora Kenyans to stay where they are and continue the role of sending money to them for Diaspora Kenyans do not understand Kenya problems. Listed are comments from a sample of the 1,050 saying, “Yes” and comments from a sample of the 50 saying, “No”

Comments by those who say, “Yes”

Kenyans in the Diaspora are economically empowered and are in a position to transform Kenya from a poor to a middle level country economically.

I would support the Diaspora. Maybe they will make less noise and do more work.

The Diaspora Kenyans think like people born in the western world. They think development. And that is what we need as a country.

Their minds are not prone to corruption like ours and so we won’t have to worry about where our money goes as we will see it in action.

Since they have already made it, they will not be looking for money to gain them individually; they will focus on developing the whole country which is good.

Kenya’s economy has already declined and this is the biggest factor in poverty in Kenya, the Kenya Diaspora live in countries with great economies and if they can transform Kenya into a great economy, then they have our support.

Anybody who can create jobs for the many jobless graduates in Kenya has our support, this will help reduce the brain drain and grow our country

We need minds that are corruption free and if the Diaspora can fit that, then they are the missing link.
The country needs fresh leaders who have no link with corruption.

A change is as good as a rest; we need new faces for once.

Change is really needed and to put an end to recycling of old ideas which have never and will never work.

I will support the Diaspora because I know they can change Kenyans lives from poor to middle level then to rich.  All Kenyans should yearn for that.

Comments by those who say, “No”

The Diaspora want to do things the American or European way and it might fail since Kenya is a developing country which needs realistic ideas.

 The Diaspora may have good ideas but they lack the patience needed to move a country such as Kenya from one level to the next. 

The Kenyan Diaspora can be compared to rural and urban dwellers.  The rural folks see urban dwellers as outsiders, people who abandoned the village and do not necessarily understand the problem of villagers, and even President Obama cannot be elected in Kenya if he sorts the presidency.

The Diaspora Kenyans will never understand Kenya or its problems, you cannot rule a country that you are not part of.

To us, they will always be foreigners and no way can we let our country be ruled by foreigners. How sure are we that they have not acquired the mindset of colonialists?  It will be a tragedy if we go be to the colonial era just because we seek change, just like Obama, we too can do it, we do not need outsiders

Only residents of Kenya know their natural resources well hence can develop them well. A change does not come overnight, they are only after enriching themselves and we will not let them, we who have been faithful to our country and have lived here in our motherland without leaving are the only ones entitled to rule this country

If they really loved Kenya and wanted to develop it, they would never have left in the first place.

They are foreigners, how can they understand African Problems?  We now see them as white people who only come back home as guests

A Kenyan is a Kenyan anywhere, corruption and tribalism will never end with them, that is just wishful thinking.

Conclusion

Progress in any nation is always challenged and derialed by those who do not understand how progress occurs. For the 1050 respondents who have said and welcome more competition they are the true developers of Kenya for they understand that more debate creates progress and when debate is stopped then citizens of a country find themselves dying of hunger, living in slums for ever and jobless. The best summary statement of those who say, “No” is: “This, ‘No guys,' given a chance to live in a country like U.S would be first in line to leave Kenya. When in the U.S don't be surprised of them leading the chorus in saying, ‘A Kenyan should not compete in Boston marathon or New York marathon and take all that money back to Kenya,’ and would point to the Wanjiru targedy.”

A citizen of Kenya who wants to offer themselves and be on the ballot for consideration for election should do so. Kenyans abroad entering the race in an organized way will indeed change the debate on corruption and economic growth can take center stage.

Those wishing to find more on Diaspora 2012 Initiative click here