The State Department for Diaspora Affairs has launched the Strategic Plan 2023-2027, a pivotal initiative aimed at enhancing the welfare and State engagement with Kenyans living in the diaspora.
The plan reiterates the government’s commitment towards strengthening partnerships with the diaspora, who are an integral part of the Kenyan social fabric.
Speaking during the event held at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, said that the diaspora plays a major role in the country’s socioeconomic transformation.
“Besides remittances, the diaspora is a key source of skills, expertise, and technology transfer that are necessary ingredients in our economic transformation. Through the diaspora, Kenya is able to attract cutting-edge technologies and rare skills that may not be available locally,” he added.
Mudavadi said that Kenya has made significant strides in addressing the needs of its diaspora, as he explained that the strategic plan provides a holistic and robust framework for addressing diaspora-related issues with an emphasis on diaspora welfare as opposed to just remittances.
“Taking advantage of the ever-growing digital space, we have onboarded critical services for the diaspora on the e-Citizen platform, making it easier for the diaspora to access government services seamlessly at anytime from anywhere,” Mudavadi emphasized.
He disclosed that remittances grew to US$ 2.8 billion in the period January to July 2024, compared to US$ 2.4 billion during a similar period in 2023.
“Taking a closer look at the trend over the first seven months of 2024 points to a possible rise in annual remittances from US$ 4.19 billion in 2023 to USD 4.8 billion in 2024, marking a 14.6 per cent increase. This exponential growth puts the country on track towards attaining the remittance target of Sh1 trillion annually by 2027,” explained Mudavadi.
He added that the strategic plan places the Kenyan Diaspora at the core of government planning and acknowledges their role in achieving the Kenya Vision 2030.
“The plan resonates very well with various global, regional, and national development frameworks, including the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union Agenda 2063, the East Africa Community Vision 2050, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and the Kenya Vision 2030,” Mudavadi said.
He urged Kenyans based in the diaspora to take up the leadership role in a regional conversation about a framework that will allow the diaspora to move back to their countries of origin comfortably.
“Facilitation of social benefits portability will allow the diaspora to migrate back safely and in an orderly manner, in line with Article 22 of the Global Compact for Migration,” explained Mudavadi.
He said that extensive discussions have been done on reducing remittance costs to align with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10(c), which aims for a maximum fee of 3 per cent on money transfers.
Mudavadi said that efforts made to reduce remittance costs include implementing policies to minimise fees, charges, and hidden costs imposed by remittance service providers, ensuring more funds reach beneficiaries.
“Despite these calls, remittance costs remain high, hindering the portability of social benefits,” he said.
Mudavadi urged all stakeholders in Kenya and beyond to collaborate and lower remittance costs to 3 per cent or less.
By Patience Mabonga and Glory Mukhwana
