Renowned Kenyan TikToker Arnold Malcom, now based in the United States, has shared his inspiring journey to relocating abroad. Malcom is a Kenyan TikToker based in the US who also works as a truck driver. Malcom, who works as a truck driver while creating content part-time, is a prominent figure in both the Kenyan and US diaspora TikTok communities. On his TikTok he often shares insights on trending topics and offers advice on migration and other human interest topics, has now shared that his journey to the US was not as smooth as many would think. What has Malcom’s journey been like? After completing high school in 2013, Malcom lived with his parents in Kayole, who pressured him to find a job.
Around that time, Qatar Airways was recruiting workers in Kenya, and despite having no qualifications in hospitality, Malcom decided to try his luck. “I explained that I was job-hunting to help my parents, and during the interview, they asked how I would use my salary. I told them I would send it to my parents, and I believe that answer helped me secure the job,” Malcom recalled what he said during the interview. He was hired as a laundry worker in the airline, earning between KSh 30,000 and KSh 40,000 monthly. Although life abroad was different and sometimes challenging due to cultural differences, it also came with advantages. “We used to enjoy benefits like fully paid tickets, 70% discounted tickets, and 50% off tickets. In that one year, I used my benefits to travel to Malaysia and Singapore, and that experience opened my mind. I realised I did not want to live in Kenya again in my life,” he said.
Malcom returned to Qatar but was determined to never live in Kenya again, so he eventually quit his job after a year and four months and returned home, where he started a carpentry business from scratch. “The first client was shocked. The work was not good, and they were very disappointed,” he admitted. However, Malcom refused to give up and kept refining his craft until he mastered it eventually making high-quality furniture. Despite his progress in carpentry, Malcom remained determined to live abroad in a first-world country. Malcom’s opportunity came when he met a friend in Kayole who often took foreigners on tours. Through this friend, he interacted with American volunteers from the Peace Corps, who introduced him to a programme in Rwanda. Malcom negotiated his way into the initiative and became an English tutor while engaging in philanthropy work. The TikToker lived there for a year, building a strong relationship with the programme director.
They became so close that they travelled across Africa to countries like Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola together. Malcom first worked in Qatar before travelling to Malaysia and Singapore, where he realised he did not want to live in Kenya. Photo: Arnold Malcom. Source: Instagram How did Malcom move to the US? When the programme ended in 2019, most of the volunteers returned to the US, but before they left, he saw an opportunity to actualise his dream. “Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, I asked the director to give me a certificate of volunteering and to invite me to the US to experience life there. I went for the visa interview, and I passed as they could see that I was well travelled and I had volunteered with one of their programmes for a year,” he shared. After his Visa came, the TikToker flew to Detroit, Michigan, initially planning to stay for just two weeks but ended up being so fascinated by life in the US, that he started seeking ways to obtain legal residency. Malcom began volunteering at churches and openly shared his situation and aspirations with people, where he got connections and legal guidance and ended up securing his first job in the US.
“Even after my stay expired, I learned how the American system works with the help of lawyers and the church. Eventually, learnt the system requirements before later acquiring permanent residency,” he explained. After living in the US for a year, Malcom ventured into truck driving, a career he still pursues alongside other side hustles. He also shared that his carpentry business in Kenya is still running and thriving. What advise does Malcom have for Kenyans seeking to relocate to the US? Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Malcom emphasised the importance of understanding immigration laws, especially in light of former US President Donald Trump’s recent policies. “Trump has been pushing for a merit-based system, favouring skilled migrants in fields like STEM and AI. If you’re thinking of relocating, it’s best to seek such opportunities that align with the system,” he advised. Additionally, Malcom urged Kenyans in the US or those seeking to relocate to find ways to contribute to society in a way that benefits both them and the system to increase their chances of securing residency to benefit from the first-world country.
by DanVictor Munene
