Kenyans abroad react to President Ruto's creation of diaspora docket

Kenyans in abroad have delved into the move by President William Ruto to create the diaspora department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to look into their affairs.

The Kenyans, through the Diaspora Youth Caucus Initiative, welcomed the President's move saying it is the first step in giving audience to millions of citizens living outside the country.

Cliff Mobeck, the leader of the initiative, said that there are over 4 million Kenyans in the diaspora, half of whom he said are not documented.

He said this could be as a result of many factors, among them the manner in which some of them left the country.

"Kenyans in the diaspora want recognition, better way of acquiring Visas, and ways the tax regime can encourage investments back home," Mobeck said.

"Most Kenyans now remit money that is only good for consumption. Once we identify Kenyans everywhere, through public participation, and encouraging them to trust the government again, because they want to belong, they can start investing back home.”

Mobeck added that the government also needs to find a way of encouraging Kenyans to diversify investments beyond the black tax.

He said that Kenyans in Europe and the United States can easily make Ksh.1 million but most of them are limited to only buying land and building houses, mostly residential.

"Buying land through real estate/land-buying companies, and letting it sit there is locking money. The government can encourage people to buy Treasury bonds and other private-public partnerships that are far profitable. Kenyans opt for Wall Street and digital coins, yet the money can be used to even lend the money internally to the government," he stated.

His sentiments were echoed by Silas Nyanchwani, the Kenyan representative of the Diaspora Youth Caucus.

Nyanchwani said he agrees with what Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said, that Kenya's ambassadors need to do more while out there, seek more opportunities for Kenyan goods and services.

"Most ambassadors don’t even engage Kenyans abroad, yet there are others who are friendly and are able to host Kenyans for dinners and public holiday celebrations, and in such an environment, Kenyans can exchange ideas on how we can best gain from the diaspora," Nyanchwani said.