The Last Interview With the Late Susan Njeri Kariuki: "I want to Go Back Home"

By Mukurima X MuriukiSusan Njeri Kariuki, the founder of Karisan Media based in Dallas, Texas and an outspoken Diasporan passed away on Friday last week after a short illness. According to Jambo News Ms. Kariuki passed on after going into Acute Respiratory distress. She was also battling pneumonia relate complications. According to Texas Presbyterian Hospital in Plano which is a surburb of Dallas, Ms. Kairuki also had a serious bacterial infection in her blood stream which further complicated her health. A year ago, African Warrior Magazine reached out to Njeri Kariuki and she agreed to speak to us about her personal experience on life in America. Here is what she had to say."The beautiful thing about the being in Diaspora is the agonizing realization that what was not taught to you by your mother, will be being taught to you right here. Fifteen years – plus and what do I make of my life? Not any results thus far that match up to my own standards of achievement and growth; hence my decision to relocate back home.Many have questioned that decision on starting a new life once again, just like I did 15 years ago when I migrated from Kenya and into the welcoming arms of the USA. Walking through the DFW airport here in Dallas TX; I was met by one of my father’s friends who has since passed away… (RIP Irah). His family sheltered me for three months before I could find a roommate to house with me. For that I will forever be grateful.This journey of life in America can be observed through many a lens. Many come and flourish and belong and own a life they will forever love and continue to cherish in because “home is where your heart is”… Many have created a first and a second generational pool of children and more power to them. Others have found that the perception of greener pastures has only led them to realizing their dreams in their sleep. It is the truth when I plead this; many await an opportunity to arise in Kenya to bail them out of the American desperation; many including myself. Pick up yourself and transport your much under-achieved but experienced self-back home. Many fear to say this. It is never told, but most of us live with it. It has to be told.As I write this, I WILL for people to be upfront in their struggles and teach and coach and motivate and AWARE those who do not understand that life without family is hard; life without fulfillment is agonizing. I will tell a tale of one cousin of mine who left  the USA back the 1980’s and who we, as very young adults in Kenya, realized that upon landing into Kenya,  she seldom spoke to anyone and self-isolated herself in many of family gatherings. She kept to herself.  I wondered then, how crazy one could be, later to realize that I am now her exact self. Not necessarily mirroring her demeanor but her need to keep herself isolated from everyone.  Many of those who reside here will face the same situation upon going back home.While I took a shower this evening, painfully acknowledging my very dry bank account; I wondered to self: ‘why do we talk about our struggles through life only when we have won the war on self-independence and only when we become the icon of recognition?’What harm would I do to myself to tell a tale of real time hardship reality and not have to wait for the story to be told in an autobiography later in life when I floss and turn heads from the flashy cars I may drive after that big break? What harm do I do me when I tell this tale now; besides tell you that you are not alone and your struggle is just as real as my real time struggle?The reality of all this; as much as it is hard to fathom, many become the  “IT” here in the USA and they do not understand your rants and your complaints and your quest for re-establishing yourself. The reality is, many are merely just getting by. For each we own our testimonies.  While social media primarily depicts lifestyles from those pictures and statuses we awe at, remember that behind many a picture; a status… there is another story that is yet to be told from the inside quarters of non-accomplishments; that inside story yet to be unleashed when we hit the “photograph me” “I made IT and my story in on the insides of the Daily Nation” kind of public status; When we finally a force to be recognized. While the world in Africa sleeps at 10:00pm and awakes at 7:00 am,  Life in the USA is never asleep. Calling my bank at 2:00am in the morning referencing a concern or merely just checking on balances is as simple as pressing 0 on your smart phone and you have a live operator responding to your call. That operator could actually be me. Life of roses in bed, those roses you barely smell let alone lie on. Though many have made it here, how I wish they can speak out about the fundamentals of work, relations and belong. What is the secret to success? Not one comes out to state it. Not one can share how they acquired wealth but to tell you... you must go to school. Truth is… School is the ultimate game changer.  Other business people will talk you out of your every inquiry of money making.Let’s fix our country and make it a haven… a place for safety and refuge and most of all, make it the opportune place to allow prosperity… The expertise of one who may not be doing great here may add significant value to know-how of some and many establishments.Reminder… That Grass is NOT always greener on the other side to many. Best be fooled by ignorance rather than reality…"Following her death, her mum family and friends invite you to join them at Saturday, August 26th at David and Grace (her cousin) home at 409 Vista Noche Drive, Lewisville, Texas, 75067 from 7Pm.A GOFUNDMe account has also been set up by the family for those who may want to offer financial support to the familyPS: Are you a Kenyan living in Diaspora and want to share you life experience or any other information you may want to share with fellow Kenyans living a world away from home? Are you a Diaspora returnee and want to share about your journey? We welcome such stories. Write to info@awmagazine.org