An unfortunate photo of Kenyans stranded in the streets of Toronto in Canada has gone viral on social media.
The photo that was originally posted in the popular traveling Kenyan group, Wanderlust Diaries on Sunday evening went viral and garnered thousands of comments.
The individual who shared the photo alleged that they had taken the photo in the streets of Toronto, Canada, where more than 20 Kenyans are sleeping in the cold.
The caption further claimed that these Kenyans recently traveled to the Canadian city on visit visas seeking to change their status by claiming for asylum.
However, with a high number ofnpensing asylum claimants and fully booked facilities, the people captured in the photo were forced to retire in the streets with their luggages.
“This is the current situation in Toronto, where almost 20 Kenyans are sleeping out on the streets as shelters are full and they’re looking for hosts. They came with visitors visas, to attend conferences, and already some have applied for asylum or planning to,” the caption on the viral photo stated.
“Please do not set yourself up for failure in a foreign land. If you do not have money wait till you can afford to travel and cater for your expenses. And to the agents, please stop selling lies to your clients, lying that you will connect them to hosts and get them jobs or lawyers to help them apply for jobs. You’re setting them up for failure”
Bizna Kenya could not independently verify the claims made through the photo. However, there has been a spike in the number of Kenyans who have received Canadian visit visas in the months of April and May.
Responding to the viral post, the Wanderlust Diaries founder and administrator Dr. Amakove Wala indicated that her group has been shunning questions from people looking to bend the system such as was portrayed by the photo.
“This is why we decline any question that points to travellers trying to bend the system. It has a major repercussion on genuine travellers,” she said.
“If people want to use unscrupulous ways of travelling, they will not use this platform to do so and neither will they cry foul when the system catches up with them. You have educated many using this one single picture.”
Dr. Wala further cautioned; “Everyone is trying to get an extra coin. Agents included. So let awareness of certain realities be created. And yes, people do get deported all the time from these countries. Ask the airline staff. They just won’t come posting it here.”
