We need leaders who believe in us

Irungu Houghton

Viewed from Nairobi, North America appears more polarised, intolerant and a deeply conflicted society since last year’s US polls. Looking closely, something is stirring again that may not havebeen seen since the 1960s and it may have lessons for us.

Since the elections, more than 1,000 attacks have happened against individuals and institutions associated with people of colour, Muslims and Jews among others. Churches, mosques and synagogues have been vandalised and torched. Citizens of all racial, gender and sexual identities have been intimidated and attacked in public or homes. Provoked by new travel bans, hundreds of Muslims found their visas denied or revoked on arrival by several airport authorities. Last month, the African Global Economic and Development Summit took place without any Africans when all 100 African delegates were denied travel visas to attend the annual conference. One wonders what the impact of this policy will be when African, Arab and Asian students willing to pay exorbitant foreign fees seek student visas.