Kenyans rally behind Kamala, Trump in US poll campaigns

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. [AFP]

With the US presidential elections just two months away, the campaigns have entered homestretch and Kenyans resident in America have cast their lot with their favourite candidates.

Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, and former President Donald Trump, 78, are in a neck and neck race for the White House according to several opinion polls. And as usual, the political campaigns have turned bruising and personal ahead of the November 5 elections, dividing the more than 240 million voters sharply between the Democrats and Republicans.

With Harris being a black woman with Indian and Jamaican roots, majority of Kenyans naturally gravitate towards her. Globe Link Group CEO John Gitau Wairimu says nearly 80 per cent of Kenyans in the US identify as Democrats and would definitely support Harris against Donald Trump.

“Party policies do not change much in America, so only a small percentage would switch parties. Still, the biggest concern even before Kamala clearly paints her policies is; another Trump presidency. I think that is the biggest concern from most community groups and forums,” Dr Gitau tells The Standard in an interview.

Race and migration policies are key issues in this election. While Kamala’s mixed race and stance on migration polices seem favourable to most immigrants, President Trump has proposed a stricter immigration policy.

“Trump has mastered politics of division. He knows there is almost half a population of Americans who support some form of white supremicism and nationalism, especially in rural areas and the south. Every time that topic is on alert, the immigrants are the first to suffer. Kenyans' biggest concern is that,” says Dr Gitau.

He says a few years back, police in the South were actually requesting documents during traffic stops, and ferrying Spanish people in some states. “This had sprung up as a result of those nationalism ideologies which are Trump's bread and butter. He instills the fear of immigrants, call them rapists and thieves and that they are taking away American jobs,” he adds.

Biotech professional and author Washington Osiro agrees that most Kenyans are apprehensive about Trump’s immigration policies. “Some Kenyans may vote with their pocketbook, that is, the economy, inflation and healthcare are important, but they are also keen on how immigrants are handled," he says.

Still, there are Kenyans who believe in conservative ideologies, especially those deep in religion. They have strong reservations on sexuality. In America, the LGBTQ community is somewhat accepted and Kenyans work and live in the same communities with these people.

“There are Kenyans who strongly support Trump because of what The Republican Party espouses. There are Kenyans who feel that illegal immigration impacts negatively the prospects of their relatives in Kenya willing to move in here. This makes it a long wait for them to obtain legal migration papers,” says Joro Coffee entrepreneur Mukurima X Muriuki.

Moms for America San Francisco Group leader Nancy Githoitho supports Trump for what the Republican Party represents for the family. She says Democrats encourage what she terms transgender where children are told they can choose whichever gender they want to be.

“I quit my job in a black non-profit firm because of having different political views. Why would I vote for someone who is programming my children to be domestic terrorists? I am also an anti-vaxxer. Trump will not mandate vaccines like Kamala who’s being funded by the big pharma,” says Ms Githoitho.

She says Trump as president will straighten up Artificial Intelligence and social media censorship unlike Kamala.

Majority of Kenyan-US citizens also know the importance of making their voice heard, especially after the 44th American President Barack Obama, who had a Kenyan father. They are also quick to note that Kenya provided the US with the first black president.

Kenya Diaspora Alliance-USA president Saisi Marasa says Kenyan Americans are not afraid to support either side of the current presidential contest.

“Majority of Kenyan Americans are coalescing towards Kamala because of what she represents on reproductive rights, healthcare and housing. There are others who are more conservative especially on religion and sexuality issues and tend to lean on the Trump ticket,” says Dr Marasa.

In another group called ‘African for Kamala’, Kenyans have contributed money to support her presidential campaigns. “The group that matters, is the independent voter (the voter without party affiliation) and the billions of dollars spent during the campaign season is targeted at influencing the on the fence voter,” says California Diaspora Representative Paddy Mwembu.

And as the campaigns continue, Kamala has improved in battleground states such as Wisconsin, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia.

However, the Kenyan diaspora that can vote in the US is still very small and politically insignificant in terms of numbers and financial power. "We can matter as voters only when we mobilise as Africans in America, not as individual countries," says Prof Mkawasi Mcharo.  

[e-mail]