The government has unveiled new measures to strengthen trust with Kenyans abroad, streamline investment channels, and enhance protection for migrant workers through reforms spearheaded by the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.
Secretary for Diaspora Welfare and Partnerships Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi said the initiatives target long-standing challenges of information gaps, misuse of philanthropic donations, and exploitation of Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad.
Speaking in Kisumu during the Kenya Foreign Policy Mashinani forum, Amb. Gichuhi said the department has intensified engagement with Kenyans abroad, holding more than 50 forums to address concerns about where to invest and how to access credible information.
She noted that a major outcome of these efforts is the establishment of the Diaspora Investment Support Office (DISO), a semi-autonomous government agency created this year to coordinate and guide diaspora investments in Kenya.
Many Kenyans abroad, she said, have wanted to invest in their home country but lacked reliable information, and that the new office will bridge the gap and provide a trusted platform for accessing verified opportunities.
She added that the department was also working with county governments to compile a bankable project book outlining investment-ready ventures across the country that will be shared with diaspora communities.
This, she said, will allow investors abroad to match their interests with viable projects in counties, linking foreign capital directly to local development priorities.
Beyond investments, the department, she added, was also developing a philanthropic policy to regulate charitable donations from the diaspora and ensure transparency and accountability in how aid is distributed.
The move follows reports of cases where items such as medicines meant for donation to hospitals end up being sold.
She said the new policy will ensure that the intended benefits of such donations reach their rightful beneficiaries.
On labour migration, the ambassador said the department, working jointly with the State Department for Labour, was implementing the Global Labour Market Strategy to expand safe and legal job placements abroad.
The Diaspora Department, she explained, serves as the government’s lead negotiator for international employment agreements.
The department, she said, was negotiating for language courses alongside job placements to make Kenyan workers more competitive.
“For example, if Germany has requested 200 plumbers from Kenya, deployment will only occur once the candidates have undergone language training to enable them to communicate effectively in the workplace. This is one of the issues we facilitate to ensure smooth export of labour,” she said.
To support these efforts, the department, she said, has partnered with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under the “Mkulima Mashinani” initiative to align training with global labour market needs and produce graduates who are ready for overseas employment.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, she said has established a 24-hour emergency hotline and maintains active communication channels through all major social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, under the handle diaspora.go.ke to give support to all Kenyans in the diaspora.
She urged Kenyans abroad to use legal channels when seeking jobs and to verify recruitment agents on the National Employment Authority (NEA) website.
“Do not fall prey to unscrupulous agents who advise you secretly or sneak you outside the country through our neighbouring countries,” she cautioned.
She further advised Kenyans to register with Kenyan embassies in their host countries and provide their addresses and contacts to facilitate assistance in emergencies such as natural disasters, saying that the government often only learns of Kenyans abroad when they are in distress.
The Kenya Foreign Policy Mashinani forum, the first of its kind, seeks to bridge the gap between diplomacy and devolution by linking foreign policy with county economic priorities, including trade, blue economy ventures, and diaspora investment.
The ambassador said Kenya’s Diaspora Policy was a living document designed to adapt to global developments and challenges.
“Unlike in many countries, Kenya’s policy can be amended as new international conditions emerge,” she said.
by Chris Mahandara
