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Adelle Onyango questions US visa process after Madina Okot’s earlier repeated denials
15th April, 2026 07:30 AM
Media personality Adelle Onyango has questioned the United States visa process after repeated visa denials for basketball player Madina Okot.
Her remarks came on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, after Okot shared her journey of being denied a US visa four times before eventually achieving a breakthrough in her career. Adelle said the situation raises serious concerns about how the process is handled for Kenyans.
Okot’s case has now attracted wide attention following her success in basketball. She explained that despite the repeated setbacks, she remained focused on her dream.
“My coach and the situation at home kept me going despite being denied a United States visa four times,” Madina Okot said in an interview on a local TV station.
Adelle Onyango responded to the issue, questioning the fairness of the process. She said the experience of applying for visas for Kenyans is both costly and emotionally draining.
“Can we please be honest about how HUMILIATING and EXPENSIVE the process for Kenyans getting a US Visa is? They denied Madina FOUR times,” Adelle Onyango said.
Concerns over visa fairness
Adelle further pointed out what she saw as a contradiction in how the situation was handled publicly. She said it was surprising to see official congratulatory messages after multiple denials. She added that the experience highlighted deeper frustrations many applicants face.
“And I can see @USEmbassyKenya posting congratulatory messages to Madina kumbe...! Ridiculous. FOUR times!” Adelle Onyango said.
Despite the challenges, Okot’s basketball career has reached a historic milestone. She was selected 13th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2026 WNBA Draft held on April 13, 2026, in New York City. The achievement marked a major moment for Kenyan basketball.
Okot, who stands at 6-foot-6, has become the highest-drafted Kenyan player in WNBA history. She is also only the third Kenyan woman to be selected into the league through the draft. Her rise has been described as one of the fastest in modern basketball.
She began playing basketball seriously around 2020 while at Zetech University in Kenya. She later moved to the United States to continue her development, featuring for Mississippi State before transferring to the University of South Carolina.
