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THE AMNESTY AND THE KENYANS IN ITALY
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30th September 2009 brought to a halt submission...
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The Italian Government in a move to regularize illegal immigrant and Italian
workers in the country passed a parliamentary decree in which all persons working illegally in
Italy from ‘the fool's day 2009’ would be put to record and hence forth enjoy rights and privileges
of workers while fulfilling their duties. The whole exercise included paying of Euro 500, 00 at
any post office through a preset form F24, acquiring a
stamp duty worth Euro 14, 62 and finally submitting the application on line.
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As the sun sets, a number of bitter truths in regard to our fellow Kenyans have clearly come out.
There were quiet a number of Kenyans who sought ways and means of applying for the said documents.
The majority of these Kenyans are young people, mainly 35 years and below, and engaged as domestic
assistants. Many of these Kenyans who came out in these days are unknown both by their fellow
Kenyans living and participating in the
events of the Kenyans here in Italy. They are also unknown by the Kenya Embassy in Rome.
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At the level of integration, it is clear that most of them have been left out. They have difficulties
in understanding and in expressing themselves in Italian language even after having been in Italy
for years. Due to this, they never understood in details what was required of them for this procedure
that is ongoing. They would hardly be able to explain to their aged employers what they wanted as
they themselves knew only of “hizi documents zinapeanwa”. Very few if any had an idea of which
Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies were
involved in the affair. A good number presented wrong papers to the wrong offices.
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A number of these Kenyans who are not members of AKI sought assistance from our Association.
Literacy levels for these Kenyans hiding in the undergroundground turned out to be under average.
They are mostly persons who have not completed the basic education in Kenya. This makes them prone
to misguidance as they take the first advice given by others who are equally placed. Illiteracy
brings with itself other weaknesses; like that of not knowing the importance of documents. A number
of these fellow Kenyans came out towards the last days of the amnesty, not only seeking assistance
in submitting their applications on line, (something that could be understood), but they sought to
be assisted on how to apply for their lost, damaged or long expired passports to enable them apply
for the permits of stay. Get it well, it’s not that they lost their passports recently after the
amnesty was announced,
their passports had been lost, expired or damaged months if not years before the amnesty came up.
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Another challenge to this class of people was the Computer. A good 90% have no idea of what a
computer is, and here are documents being applied for online, just as many things in Italy are
quickly turning to be online. A few of those who would courageously affirm that they know how to
use the computer would only go to facebook, but they have no idea of any package in the Microsoft
office.
This left a number of them exploited in various ways by persons who agreed to fill up the
applications for them.
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While we may shrug our shoulders and dismiss this as their own business, in reality, this remains
a big challenge to all those with social responsibilities of leadership and guidance, and those
who are well up in the society. If in this 21st century there are our fellow Kenyans in Italy aged
30 years and below, and who are semi illiterate, then we must agree that we still have lots of
miles to cover, before we can tell our hosts that we are at the same levels of civilization and
education. If we stand up and condemn slavery, then we must know that there are our countrymen
and women living in slavery of
some kind around us. We should be pestered by the question, “How can we assist them?”
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Proposals.
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Strong women:
As AKI sweat in trying to assist Kenyans go through the procedures of applying for these documents,
it was clear that 85% of the assistance seekers were ladies. A Whole generation of young girls
born in the 80s if not in the late 70s’. There is a whole campaign of gender equality and
re-enforcement of women. In trying to seek how best these girls can be assisted, we wish to
call upon strong ladies living in Italy. Strong in terms of academical formation, economical
standing, influence in the social and governmental institutions etc. We are thinking of the
Kenyan men and women working at the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Rome and at the UN
agencies in Rome. Are they able to do something that can place these Kenyans at a
better place in the society? Illiteracy is a form of slavery worse the classical slavery hood.
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Incentives to bring Kenyans together:The Kenya Embassy
in Rome and the Kenyan Associations in Italy should in conjunction create events that bring
Kenyans living Italy together often. From such encounters it is possible to know the challenges
facing fellow Kenyans and
thereby create forums to address the very problems and limitations facing our people in Italy.
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Seek organizations, private individuals that would be willing
to sponsor formation projects to Kenyans:
We must start from a point that a formation of these person was not completed satisfactorily
and they entered into the next stage (working) of life prematurely. We should propose to
them a formation program which might include taking up some courses either in already established
institutions or in classes designed by for this purpose. To do this, we would need to fish
for some institutions in Italy willing to sponsor such project.We are open to your suggestions
and proposals. Lets us move quickly to assist our fellow Kenyans.
Let us place them at a level where they can dialogue with the rest in the society.
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Your Comments to the webmaster on info@kenyansinitaly.org
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