Kenyan Saxophonist Denied US Visa Three Times Now Serving in the US Air Force
Kenyan saxophonist and Master of Ceremony Gearrie Wainaina has successfully obtained a US visas after years of repeated denials.
Wainaina first attempted to secure a visa in 2010, following a nomination for a music award, but his application was rejected due to incomplete forms and insufficient financial documentation.
“We didn’t have ties like family, a good paycheck, or a bank statement to prove we could afford the trip,” he said.
A second attempt within the same week also failed. He emphasises the importance of preparation, advising applicants to provide clear evidence of their financial capacity and strong ties to their home country, such as family or stable employment, to satisfy embassy officials that they will return after visiting.
By 2016, Wainaina’s situation had changed. Married with a child in the US, he presented his marriage certificate to embassy officials. Confusion over the appropriate visa category initially delayed approval, but after multiple interviews and clarification of his circumstances, he obtained B1/B2 visas.
He travelled as a visitor, returned to Kenya, and later established a professional life in the United States. Wainaina also runs Mkenya Marekani, a platform sharing stories of Kenyans living in the US, and practises music therapy.
In contrast, Bernard Musyoki, married to an American woman in 2021, has faced delays in obtaining permission to visit his wife while she recovers from COVID-19 complications and pneumonia. Appeals for assistance have so far been unsuccessful, keeping the couple apart during a critical period.
