Why dropping figures like you are talking of your personal fortune and acting all shifty about what you want? Wacha vitisho bwana.

Hello Rollout. I know foreign investors are all about the billion shilling plays. Right now I'm trying to incite wazuans to come together and build an underground rail for Nairobi. What do you think of that idea?

Hello Rollout,

Please understand that there are people on the forum that, sadly, will act a bit unkind toward you because of such questions, even though they are valid, important questions to be asked. And I'm not pointing fingers here; it's just an observation. Ignore these types of responses, and keep posting. Be persistent. There seems to be some sort of feeling from some folks- not all, but some- that people that went into the diaspora are arrogant, or even "sellouts"- ignore the comments from people that act in this fashion. Your questions are valid; please persist.

Though, I will concede that being in the diaspora can make people cocky- it's just the Western way of interacting, and it can rub off on people, and can then rub people the wrong way, even when it seems to be par-for-the-course when talking business in the US.

Considering your background, I'd say that you should look closely at the prospectuses of the companies on the NSE, and think of all the opportunity that the young, clean exchange has. Other than that, I recommend asking more pointed questions on the forum, about specific industries, businesses, start-up ideas, and you will start to get good responses.

And on that note, there should be a requirement for Kenyans returning from the diaspora to give a brief of their experiences, and to share them with people that are also thinking about going- maybe even a participation requirement before leaving. There should also be a yearly forum to share ideas and thoughts about what ideas can be taken from the diaspora, and what ideas can be taken to the diaspora. This open, honest (that's the key... if you were performing Manoki work, just say so. If you were making tons of money, just say so) dialog is critical.

Best,

Hill

@Rollout, again you were talking sense right to the point when you said I don't do the little fights because I know... the rest of it is just blah blah, like you are trying to justify your achievements and diaspora status.

Tells me that those are the only achievements you have to your name.

Anyway who introduces himself as ... not looking for a woman to marry and ... not looking for a job.. Just shows your subconscious craving for a woman to marry and feeling that your job is under threat. Yeah and Guess what?... you are in denial!

@ Hill.
Thanks for your insight, I think it reflects on personal intellect when someone instead of seeing the opportunity that a situation can bring, start attacking and it does remind me of our politics and why we're poor as a country.
Mr Hill, the idea of Kenyan abroad discussing expriences with those at home I think is a great thing for both parties, there are alot of things I personally can learn from people back home. A lot of Kenyans in diaspora are not arrogant and yes alot of Kenyans work in Manokis and if you ask me why, I will tell you that USA is a country like no other, it is a country where 16 yrs old kids own cars a country where a janitor drive the same car as a CEO, so think about what it can do to a person if you're not driven enough?
Yes most Kenyan came to USA to go to school and alot of them graduated but just like any other country, it is hard to break into professional fields, it is even hard since most companies are specific on who they want to hire and which school they recruit from, and most of those school are out of reach to most pple and people end up graduating and landing on ok jobs, whether it is manoki or working on professional jobs for a company that will never help you be who you wanna be.
On kenyans in kenya, most of them have too much pride, but until you get out of the country it might be hard to understand how underdeveloped we're, how miss educated we could be and how far we have to go as people.

Yes. Watch when these Americans attack Kenya with holier than thou accusations like the 'sea of corruption' nonsense, kumbe them they stole literally TRILLIONS of dollars from public coffers to cause a full blown recession! You Kenyamericans should also watch with your talk of managing billions in the States and now coming back to humbly serve Kenya. That is a favourite pickup line for con men

@Erifloss.
Anyone who finish their statement with- we've the best success story in africa is delusional- I am also surprised by your reaction, I am not here to defend USA, but the thinking that Western countries developed because they stole resource from developing countries is a typical propaganda that have been used by Third world countries tyrants and politicians for generation to distract and therefore steal from their people.If you've not realised that, then you're stupid. Africa in underdeveloped because of poor management of resources, corruption and political instability driven by ignorance. I don't blame you because I know you've never gone out there and see how a country is suppose to treat its citizens.
I am impressed you know how much debt US federal government have, I challenge you to expand your research and find out how much wealth American Corporations have and how that wealth is generated, You'll learn that they make their money by hardwork, constant research, good management and constant drive to success by people who work for them.if you do that, you might be able to help our country

@Rollout, that argument is so weak. Africa has very young countries, all less than 100 years old. When your beloved America was still young, the atrocities people were committing in the name of scrambling for wealth are incomparable to what we see in Africa. People were killing each other in the name of gold and oil, hunting the real Native Americans for fun, surely even the land you reside upon is stolen from 'Indians!' Come to Europe, most European countries spent their youth assigning thousands of hectares to kings with the utmost impunity, and killing each other over which chapters should be in the bible for heavens sake! So don't come over here trying to chastise African countries that are young and growing! We have the right to grow and chart our own destinies without external meddling, just like those developed countries did.

@Rollout You are fighting a losing battle here. Some people will just smirk at you the moment you say America. Trust me I know.

There is this silly attitude that everyone from the US is "feeling hot". You will get sentence after sentence about how Kenya is the greatest country in the world then 10 minutes later from the same person will come words like mpigs etc. Just read the posts from the fellows who just posted.

So take my advice, avoid mentioning it too much as you will be hurting someone's ego.

As for your ideas, I love ideas and if your resume is what you say it is, then I pity anyone who doesn't take the opportunity to learn. Good luck. Maybe you can tell me a good way to start merging and acquiring a few kiosks in my area.

@Rollout, i do take your challenge on wealth held by American corps.
1. Bear Sterns by every 'wall street's' standard was big.
2. Lehmann filed for bankrulptcy being stripped as we talk selling some of its good businesses at throw away prices.
3. AIG after 60 years in business bailed by govt after taking too much risk in terms of insurance hedges (more than 0.5 trillion dollars)
4. Detroit based motor companies were basically kept alive by the govt so as to have chance while competing with the Toyota's & Nissan's of the world.
5. Wealth through Enron, Worldcom, Madoff c'mon!
6. Merryl Lynch bought by BOA that was saved by the govt.
7. Some of the largest IPO's have been out of the US.
8. Most of GE's operations are in China. Why?
9. Lots of insider trading that go into billions where people lose their pensions take the above and Sri Lankan as an example.
10. WB is even going to India for investment options.
11. Google being investigated for malpractices.
12. Using quants to make CDO's to make money. C'mon.
The list is endless.

Success stories in Africa:
1. Largest diamond co. from SA.
2. First cellphone money transfer safcom Kenya.
3. Mobile commerce. Still Mpesa/Zap Kenya.
4. After Grameen, Equity steps into the building.
5. Ask yourself why funds like soros, banks like HSBC are rushing in?
6. Scangroup. Wpp had to rush in.
7. Eabl. Diageo rushed in.
8. Bamburi. Larfarge came rushin in.
You being the investment banker i think you know why these companies are rushing in!
The list is endless and we do make clean money too even though corruption is here and lobbying is there.