Amakove wrote to the American embassy in Kenya on behalf of its citizens. This is what she wrote
FLoreign Tilla Maiyo An open letter to the incoming US Special Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman
Re: Delayed VISA appointments at US Embassy in Kenya
My name is Dr Wala Amakove Elizabeth. I am a Kenyan medical doctor running a couple of start up businesses in Kenya. I do not have any future plans to relocate. One of my businesses is Wanderlust Diaries Ltd whose sole purpose is to promote Kenya to Kenyans and we have done it so successfully that Meta gave us a grant to scale it up.
In June 2022, one of my daughters (I have a son and Triplet daughters) qualified to attend The World Scholar’s Cup Global Round in Dubai, a debate and creative writing competition. I scraped and scrounged and she attended the competition. . Something that she had worked really hard for. I received immense support from my friends and even Kenya Airways, The Pride of Africa, to carry the Kenyan flag high while in Dubai. And carry she did! So much so that she and her teammates from another school (she was the only one from her school) qualified for the grand finale called the Theatre of Champions in Yale, USA, to be held in November 2022. We all celebrated. She cried. She had put in so much into this competition.
When we came back, I immediately embarked on a journey to start the VISA process. I needed an invitation letter from Global Scholar’s Cup which was sent immediately. I needed specific passport photos. I then applied in the system for both of us. The total amount of money for the VISA was Ksh. 38,400 (~240USD) I had to borrow from one of the companies I run with my nanny to pay for it. Lo and behold, the next available slot for an appointment then was May 2024! I was in shock. Of what use was this appointment when 1) the event was in November 2022; 2) The VISA fees are only valid for one year; 3) I have absolutely no intention of absconding my beloved motherland and my other 3 children and businesses. I was told to apply for an expedited appointment and I did. The response from the embassy was swift.Appointment denied.I was told by friends to keep checking the appointment schedule for any opening between 11pm and 6am in the morning. that I could be in luck and get a 2023 date. What kind of life is that!
Dear Madam Ambassador, the embassy is making billions of shillings from Kenyans through this delays in appointments. I am not that desperate to get an American VISA. I know my daughter will be disappointed. All I am asking for is a change in the system to 1) get people to pay when they are due for the appointment 2) refund the application fee to people like us who give up when given a 2 year date. This is simply daylight robbery.I hope this letter gets to you. I know many other Kenyans whose plans have been scattered because of these delays and who are suffering silently. I don’t suffer in silence.
Yours disappointed and broke mother of four,
Amakove Wala