Kenya to host diaspora convention in December

Kenya will in December host a Diaspora conference to explore innovative ways to tap into skills and capital from citizens working abroad to hasten implementation of a national development blueprint, organizers said on Wednesday.

More than 500 people are expected to participate in the sixth edition of Kenya Diaspora Home Coming Convention slated for Dec. 17 to 19 themed “Diaspora and the Big 4 Agenda.”

“The three-day convention that will take place in Nairobi will bring together leading Diaspora and local captains of industry to network and hold discussions on investments, skills, know-how and governance required to leapfrog the country to new levels of growth,” said Kenya Diaspora Alliance which is organizing the event.

Senior government officials will participate in the Diaspora conference that will raise awareness on the opportunities that Kenyans working abroad can harness to foster growth and cohesion in their native homeland.

“It will be a consultative event whose objective includes awareness creation among Kenyans in the Diaspora on investment opportunities at national and county levels,” said the organizers.

According to the alliance, the premier event will create a platform to facilitate interaction between the diaspora and policymakers and enhance their participation in the socio-economic development of the country.

Shem Ochuodho, chair of Kenya Diaspora Alliance said that citizens working abroad are keen to be enjoined in programs that advance inclusive growth, prosperity, stability and cohesion in their country of birth.

“The main goal of the upcoming convention is to bring together the Diaspora community to be part of Kenya’s economic, cultural and ideological change,” said Ochuodho.

It is important to discuss ways that the diaspora can contribute towards the country’s development blueprint that focuses on food security, affordable housing, manufacturing and universal healthcare, “he added.

Statistics from the Central Bank of Kenya indicate that the diaspora remittances stood at 215.6 billion shillings (about 2.15 billion U.S. dollars) in September.