Gachagua Pledges to Appoint Diaspora Kenyans as Ambassadors if Elected President
Rigathi Gachagua has pledged to appoint ambassadors and deputy ambassadors from Kenya’s diaspora if elected president in 2027.
Speaking to Kenyans in Dallas, Texas, the Democracy for Citizens Party leader said Kenyans living abroad had valuable experience of their host countries and would be better placed to represent Kenya’s interests. Gachagua criticised successive governments for appointing diplomats who, he said, had limited knowledge of the countries where they were posted. He questioned the decision to send ambassadors to Washington who had never lived in the United States.
He said appointing envoys from the diaspora would strengthen Kenya’s bilateral relations while giving citizens abroad a greater role in the country’s governance.
Gachagua also pledged to establish a Kenyan consulate in Texas, which has one of the largest Kenyan-born populations in the United States. He said the consulate would make it easier for Kenyans in the state to access government services without travelling to Washington, DC.
He linked the proposal to the wider economic contribution of Kenyans living abroad, particularly through remittances. Gachagua urged the diaspora to channel more of their resources into manufacturing, agro-processing and other value-addition industries in Kenya.
He said increased diaspora investment could help create jobs for young people and support efforts to address unemployment. Gachagua also pointed to Texas’s economic strength and its sizeable Kenyan community as reasons for establishing a consulate there. He said a stronger diplomatic presence in the state could improve access to consular services while creating opportunities for trade and investment.
The proposals form part of Gachagua’s wider foreign policy message, which seeks to give Kenyans abroad a greater role in Kenya’s diplomatic and economic affairs. His campaign has presented the diaspora as an important partner in strengthening Kenya’s international relationships and supporting investment at home.
