Kenyan Man Living in Walmart Parking Lot in Atlanta Turns to Diaspora for Help

A Kenyan man living in the Atlanta metropolitan area is facing homelessness and declining health, prompting an appeal for support from members of the Kenyan diaspora.

The case came to light after digital creator Karanja Dan shared a video describing his encounter with the man in a Walmart car park. Karanja said the man had been using the premises as temporary shelter before security personnel ordered him to leave.

“I found the guy being roughed up by security guards telling him that he has to leave the premises compound,” Karanja said in the recording, which has since circulated online.

The man moved to the United States with his wife after leaving Kenya. According to Karanja, their marriage later broke down, leaving the man without stable accommodation.

His situation has also been affected by an accident in Kenya that left him with lasting injuries to one leg. The condition has made it more difficult for him to cope while living without permanent shelter.

Karanja further alleged that the man’s wife filed a complaint against him, resulting in his arrest and a period of incarceration. The nature of the allegations, the timeline of the events and whether the matter proceeded through the courts could not be independently verified.

Karanja also claimed that the couple had previously lived in a four-bedroom house before the man was forced to leave. This detail has not been independently confirmed.

Karanja said he had tried to assist the man but that his circumstances required broader support. He has appealed to Kenyans in Atlanta and elsewhere to provide practical assistance as the man seeks stable accommodation and support for his health needs.

The man is currently reported to be without permanent housing and relying on public spaces for shelter. His situation illustrates the difficulties migrants can face when personal, financial and health problems leave them without a stable support system.

Karanja’s appeal is now calling on members of the Kenyan diaspora to come together and help the man secure safer living conditions and access to the support he needs.