Nairobi, Kenya – Kenyan officials are calling for a renewed focus on the country’s vast diaspora community. Roseline K. Njogu, Permanent Secretary for the State Department of Diaspora Affairs, addressed newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners before their deployment.
Njogu emphasized the critical role these diplomats will play in serving and amplifying the voices of Kenyans abroad. She highlighted the need for inclusion of the diaspora in national development plans and policymaking. Initiatives like the Mobile Consular Services program, which has served nearly 10,000 Kenyans abroad, were presented as models for improved engagement.
The State Department also offers assistance with repatriation and evacuation for Kenyans in distress. Njogu noted Kenya’s swift response in evacuating 1,170 citizens from Sudan during political unrest in 2023.
The session explored initiatives like the Diaspora Placement Agency (DPA), which connects Kenyans abroad with job opportunities back home. Njogu stressed the importance of integrating the estimated 3-4 million Kenyans in the diaspora, representing roughly 8% of the population, into the country’s social and economic development.
The envoys responded by pledging to prioritize Kenyan interests and facilitate initiatives like trade route expansion, skill transfer, and encouraging diaspora investment back home.