NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi County Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria has urged Kenyans to refocus their ambitions at home following the United States government’s decision to suspend the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, popularly known as the Green Card lottery.
In a social media post on Friday, Mosiria struck a reflective tone, telling Kenyans to channel their energy into national development rather than anxiously tracking visa application emails.
“Green Card Lottery imeekwa on hold. So hakuna stress, hakuna checking emails kila saa ati ‘Dear Applicant…’ The message is clear: tujijenge hapa home,” Mosiria wrote. “Why cry over America when we can make Kenya our America?”
His remarks came hours after US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that President Donald Trump had ordered the immediate suspension of the program, citing security concerns and renewed scrutiny following violent incidents involving former diversity visa recipients.
According to Noem, the decision followed investigations into a deadly shooting involving a former diversity visa beneficiary, as well as earlier terror attacks linked to the same immigration pathway. Immigration authorities were directed to halt the program with immediate effect as the administration considers further action.
The Diversity Visa Lottery has for decades offered a legal pathway for thousands of Kenyans to migrate to the United States each year. Kenya has consistently ranked among African countries with the highest number of applicants, with many viewing the program as a rare opportunity for economic mobility.
Mosiria’s comments resonated with a broader national conversation on self-reliance and development, echoing sentiments recently expressed by senior government leaders who have questioned the fixation on foreign opportunities.
“Why admire Singapore on YouTube when we can build it hapa ground, with sunshine na hakuna snow,” Mosiria added, blending humour with a development message. “Kenya si maskini, iko tu under construction. Relax, sisi ndio mafundi.”
However, reactions online were mixed. While some Kenyans welcomed the message as timely encouragement to invest locally, others argued that the suspension of the lottery shuts down a legitimate aspiration for many families seeking better education, healthcare, and job opportunities abroad.
Migration experts note that the DV Lottery has historically provided an alternative to irregular migration, particularly for young professionals and students. Its suspension, they warn, could heighten desperation among applicants unless matched with credible domestic job creation and economic reforms.
The Trump administration has defended the move as part of a broader immigration crackdown. In recent statements, the US president has reiterated plans to restrict migration from what he described as “Third World countries,” arguing that tighter controls are necessary for national security and economic recovery.
For Kenya, the development adds urgency to ongoing debates about development models and youth employment. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recently argued that Kenya’s path to prosperity should be shaped by its own context, drawing lessons from multiple Asian economies rather than relying on emigration as an escape valve.
As uncertainty hangs over the future of the Diversity Visa program, many applicants are left recalibrating their plans — weighing the promise of opportunities abroad against renewed calls to build livelihoods at home.
