CHAPTER NINETEEN

MAXIMIZING THE POTENTIAL OF OUR DIASPORA

The Challenges:

There are as many as 1.8 million Kenyans living and working abroad as professionals and entrepreneurs. The remittances from the Kenyan diaspora account for a significant amount of Kenya’s foreign exchange amounting to approximately 3.8% of the national income. They remit over Kshs 90 billion a year.

This by far outstrips the net foreign direct investment (FDI) of Kshs 3.6 billion ($ 50.4 million) which accounted for only 0.41% of Kenya’s gross domestic product. These remittances contribute significantly to the country’s development.

The Kenyan diaspora has huge potential, and we need to maximize their influence in our economy.

Our Commitments:

We will cherish our most invaluable resource – Kenyans abroad.

We will empower the Kenyans in the diaspora to participate in the social, economic and political life of this country.

Your ODM Government will:

• Introduce in partnership with local banks and/or the Postal Corporation the most cost-effective and swift way to make remittances from abroad. There are high money transfer costs that are retained abroad in commissions.

• Introduce rights to dual citizenship and to voting.

• Create an online Diaspora Data Bank to collect baseline information on Kenyans abroad for networking. There are many renowned experts in leading academic and financial institutions. Their skills and knowledge can be tapped by those Kenyans living at home to share and update their knowledge and skills, thus reversing brain drain to brain gain. The one-stop website should also provide up-to-date information on investment opportunities and jobs in the public sector.

• Attract Diaspora investors and entrepreneurs by assisting them in setting up joint ventures with domestic companies. The members of the Diaspora will be assisted quickly through the maze of company registration, licenses and permits required to start a business.

• Consider giving tax holidays for Kenyans who start up business upon returning home. A one time waiver may be granted by relaxing import duty on items necessary for start-up.

• Consider setting up Special Economic Zones, exclusively for industries to be set up by nonresident Kenyans and people of Kenyan origin.

• Facilitate charitable ventures proposed by the members of the Diaspora in Kenya, such as building health centres or supplying toys for nurseries etc.

• Encourage domestic financial institutions to provide foreign currency mortgages to match the currency in which the salary for non-resident Kenyans is earned, thus eliminating exchange risk.

• Employ qualified Kenyans in the host countries as local staff in the embassies.

• Encourage the Diaspora to assist the Kenya Tourist Board in marketing Kenya as the best holiday destination in their host countries. For example, they can distribute travel literature in local libraries and write articles in local papers extolling the beauty of Kenya.

• Assist Kenyan women abroad who are enduring violent breakdowns in marriage and are at serious risk. The Mission can provide a safe refuge and passage home if necessary.

• Appreciate and honour members of the Diaspora who have excelled in the host countries either in academia, commerce and philanthropy by awarding them medals.