A homeless Kenyan man whose viral appeal for help drew concern from the diaspora has found temporary shelter after Kenya’s embassy in Washington DC intervened in his case.

Nicodemus Imus Lochok, who had been living on the streets in Nashville, Tennessee, has been checked into the Nashville Rescue Mission as officials work to establish his immigration status and consider longer-term support.

Kenya’s Ambassador to the US, David Kerich, said the mission was working with local authorities to determine how best to assist him. “The embassy is trying to find out his immigration status to see how he can be assisted,” Mr Kerich said after inquiries on Sunday.

By Sunday, Nicodemus had been checked into the rescue home, which shelters homeless people in the city of Nashville, Tennessee.

His plight had already attracted considerable interest after netizens spotted him living off garbage in the streets of Nashville. He was also appealing for help.

Originally from Turkana County in Kenya, he had emigrated to the US after marrying an American woman he had met in Kenya while on missionary work.

According to information shared on his Facebook page, the woman’s name is Ms Renee Jordan Emus. The couple married in 2019 and have two children together.

Nicodemus is an alumnus of Turkwel Boys High School, according to his social media posts.

Read: Why Kenyans get stuck in US even when it harms their well-being

While little is known about the exact details of how he separated from his American wife and two children, he had lately been recorded begging netizens for a job, housing or financial support.

The Embassy suggested it may help him resettle if his immigration status was valid or help him relocate back to Kenya from where he could restart life.

His plight has got the Kenyan diaspora talking, with some generally saying his case also reflects the challenge immigrants face while navigating the capitalistic US culture.

Josphat Lowoi, a Kenyan financial expert and longtime resident of New York, said American systems mean even one delayed pay cheque can put you in the streets.

“Most people must balance paying their own bills with sending money to support families back home. Often, income and expenses cancel out, leaving most people in the diaspora with near-zero net savings,” he said.

In most cases, job losses, divorce or mental health push people into the streets, according to Prof Kefa Otiso of Bowling Green University. He has written on the welfare of the Kenyan diaspora in the US.

“Failing to create a good social network abroad can also lead to homelessness, especially in tough times,” he said. Mr Lochok’s actual cause of homelessness has not been revealed, but Prof Otiso suggested it could also reflect “the disconnect between Kenyan and American culture.”

Read: Beyond broke: Dark side of ‘American dream’

“This creates opposing expectations in areas such as marital roles which, if unresolved, can lead to divorce. For fathers, divorce often means losing a home and paying expensive child support, which often makes it hard to make ends meet.

The Kenyan government and its embassies, he added, should create training programmes that prepare Kenyans for life abroad before they leave the country.

In the US, however, home ownership is becoming expensive even for people in stable marriages or regular jobs, social welfare dwindles, and the cost of living rises.

Read: Homeless Kenyan in US hospitalised as doctors seek next of kin

“Home ownership is far beyond the reach of most Americans. The USA has structures that no longer favour welfare economics,” argued Eric Otenyo, professor of political science at Northern Arizona University.

“Year on year, it is getting worse as labour is devalued in favour of technology.”

He added that the Kenyan diaspora lacks the organisational capacity to meet the needs of Kenyans scattered across all 50 states. To address issues of homelessness, he thinks individuals should work with local institutions in their cities and states. They should also seek counselling in challenging times.

Lowoi said it is usually tough to pack up and start life over when things go wrong abroad, as in Nicodemus’s case.

“The Kenyan mission could make a huge difference by working with local governments at city and state levels to create economic opportunities to help people like Nicodemus get back on their feet and transition smoothly.”

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