By Prof. Ndiang’ui, Fort Myers, Florida

Change—Silence is Treachery

Time for Complacency is Over
Kenyans abroad, the moment of reckoning is now. Our homeland is bleeding, suffocating under
the weight of corruption, mismanagement, and state-sponsored oppression. We cannot afford to
look away, to pretend that all is well, or to remain silent in the face of injustice. This government
thrives on sycophancy and indifference—two things we must utterly reject.
The Diaspora’s Duty in a Nation Under Siege
The Kenyan diaspora possesses immense influence, yet too many remain silent while the country
crumbles. Living abroad grants us the freedom many at home can only dream of—the ability to
speak without fear of abduction, harassment, or assassination. But what good are these freedoms
if we fail to use them to fight for those left behind?
Even worse, some among us shamelessly cozy up to the very architects of Kenya’s suffering.
They return home to grovel before corrupt officials, inviting these pseudo-leaders abroad to wine
and dine at our expense. They then go back and claim hefty per diems. We cannot be part of this.
It is not just hypocrisy—it is betrayal. Every word of praise for this oppressive government is a
dagger in the back of the struggling mwananchi. To acknowledge Kenya’s dire state in private
while remaining mute in public is not neutrality—it is complicity.
As Frantz Fanon cautioned in The Wretched of the Earth, “Silence is deceit.” Martin Luther King
Jr. echoed the same truth: “Evil thrives when good people fail to speak up.” The time for
cowardice has passed. The time to rise is now.
Diaspora Power: A Sleeping Giant That Must Awaken
We in the diaspora occupy an unmatched position of power. Unlike our brothers and sisters back
home who face daily struggles under a crumbling system, we have access to economic stability,
global networks, and platforms that can amplify our voices. And yet, while corruption continues
to cripple governance, unemployment reaches catastrophic levels, and essential services
deteriorate, we have allowed ourselves to be reduced to mere bystanders.
The billions we send home every year form a critical pillar of Kenya’s economy. Without our
remittances, the country would collapse. And yet, this administration treats us as cash
cows—valuable for our money but underserving of political representation or engagement.
Enough is enough. The diaspora must refuse to be exploited. We must leverage our economic
and intellectual power to push for accountability, demand transparency, and insist on reforms that
benefit the people—not the corrupt elite.

Money Talks—It’s Time to Use It as Leverage
Diaspora remittances inject billions into Kenya’s economy annually, keeping the nation afloat
while its leaders loot public funds. Despite our economic lifeline, the Ruto administration
continues to exploit our goodwill. Instead of making diaspora investment easier, the government
imposes excessive taxes and bureaucratic nightmares designed to frustrate investors.
Worse still, instead of creating job opportunities at home, Ruto boasts about exporting Kenyan
labor abroad. Our brothers and sisters, desperate for employment, are sent to foreign lands where
they endure near-slavery conditions. When they suffer abuse abroad, the government ignores
their plight until public outcry forces action. The case of the Kenyan woman tribulations in the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a case in point and there are many more. This administration
has made it clear: they value our money more than our lives. We must demand better. We must
demand that our remittances are used to develop Kenya, not to line the pockets of corrupt
officials.
Expose Ruto’s Lies—The Time for Accountability is Now
William Ruto is a master of deception. He roams the country peddling falsehoods, making grand
promises to the diaspora that he has no intention of fulfilling. He pledged to create a Ministry of
Diaspora Affairs—this was a lie. Instead, he buried diaspora issues within an underfunded,
ignored department. He promised to appoint diaspora members to key positions—another empty
promise. His administration sees us only as a source of remittances and votes, not as stakeholders
in Kenya’s governance.
As the 2027 elections approach, we must take a stand. We cannot afford another cycle of
deception. The diaspora must mobilize, organize, and ensure that Ruto’s falsehoods are exposed
at every opportunity. Let us use our platforms, our resources, and our voices to hold this
administration accountable.
End Political Sycophancy and Tribalism—Be the Change Kenya Needs
One of the most shameful realities of the diaspora is the persistence of sycophancy. Some among
us continue to sing the praises of corrupt politicians, treating them as demigods instead of the
criminals they are. Even more disgraceful, we import Kenya’s tribal divisions into our host
countries, perpetuating the very politics that have crippled our homeland.
We must break free from these shackles. Having experienced governance rooted in meritocracy
and accountability abroad, we have a duty to demand the same for Kenya. We are Kenyans
first—tribe must never come before country. Political elites exploit tribalism to divide and rule
while they enrich themselves behind closed doors. We must reject this manipulation. As Martin
Luther King Jr. warned, “We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish as
fools.”

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o aptly said, “The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the
oppressed.” Let us not be enslaved by propaganda. Let us reject empty rhetoric. Let us demand
real, tangible change.
Fight for Diaspora Voting Rights—No More Disenfranchisement
The diaspora must demand fair voting access. The current system—where voting is restricted to
embassies and select locations—is an intentional ploy to suppress our influence. This is
unacceptable.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) must expand diaspora voting
centers to major cities with significant Kenyan populations. If a city has more than 700 registered
voters, it deserves a polling station. Cities such as Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Dallas,
Frankfurt, Manchester, Melbourne, Minneapolis, Perth, Seattle, Sydney, and Toronto must be
included.
As Americans once declared in their fight for independence: No taxation without representation!
The diaspora is a crucial constituency and must be treated as such. Power is never given, it is
taken. The time to demand our rights is now.
The 2027 Elections Are Approaching—Diaspora, This is Our Moment
Kenya is at a crossroads. The country’s fate depends on those willing to fight for its future.
While many at home are silenced by fear, we in the diaspora have no such excuse. We have the
privilege of free speech, global influence, and financial power. The only question is: will we use
it?
The days of passive observation are over. We must expose government failures, amplify the
voices of the oppressed, and demand accountability. We must flood media outlets, organize
protests, and engage policymakers in our host countries to pressure Kenya’s leadership.
The time to act is now. The time to speak is now. The time to demand change is now. Let history
remember that the Kenyan diaspora did not stand by while their nation burned. Let it be said that
when Kenya needed them most, they rose to the occasion and fought for the country they love.
Silence is treachery. Stand up and be counted.