Ms.Jackline Yonga, the Director International Jobs & Diaspora Office with H.E.President Mwai Kibaki

At the invitation of the World Bank, the country sent a high powered delegation headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with representatives from Diaspora. The Open House forum was a sequel to the one held in November 2007. The African Diaspora Program (ADP), was previously known as “Mobilizing the African Diaspora for Development” initiative, was launched by the World Bank in September 2007.

Kenya was singled out among other African nations to showcase and share her experiences with other African countries on how it has created an enabling environment and institutionalized policies for its Diaspora. This was as a result of the country’s deliberate initiatives aimed at integrating the Diaspora into national development. The World Bank particularly acknowledged the effort of the Government of Kenya in establishing a Directorate within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to specifically deal with Diaspora affairs.  Following the restructuring of Government in 2008 and the ongoing rationalization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry’s mandate was expanded to include Diaspora Diplomacy as one of its key pillars.

Further, the Government, as a way of mainstreaming the Diaspora into the economic development firmly entrenched Diaspora as an important economic pillar of the country’s economic blue print – the “Vision 2030”.

Back to the just concluded the World Bank African Diaspora Open House, Kenya was highly praised and commended due to her structured efforts in addressing some of the thematic issues of concern to the World Bank which included issues of  Diaspora Remittances, Brain Gain and Hometown Associations. Remittance from Kenyan Diaspora is approximately over US$609 Million, annually.  However, it is worth noting that proper tracking of remittance flow and its usage has been a major challenge due to lack of efficient and one stop shop facility to track Diaspora remittances.

Of much interest to the World Bank and the participants from other African countries was the presentation from the President of Kenya Community Abroad (KCA), a Kenya Diaspora from Canada and a former Kenya Diaspora (now an investor in the country). Their presentation focused on the innovative money transfer mechanism that will ambitiously cut down the current cost of international money transfer by up to 75 percent from its current market rate. The mobilepay money transfer has already been licensed. This is a facility that was applauded and viewed by the larger spectrum of the delegates as a near solution to the remittances problem. The presentation also highlighted certain solutions that would also provide information on the sources of the funds, the recipients and the intended use. The information generated would also allow the government to know the number of Kenyans in the Diaspora, their countries of host, towns and the various skills they possess. This is important in assisting the Government in its national planning.

The World Bank and delegations from other African countries appreciated Kenya’s effort and commended and acknowledged the efforts and resources expended in coming up with just a facility.  It was proposed that money transfer facility can be replicated elsewhere. Currently cost of international money transfer and procedure for leveraging Diaspora remittances is a common denominator problem to most of African Diaspora source nations. Kenya was viewed as the only one in Africa that has come close to nearer solving the teething problem.

The World Bank undertook to support Kenya in her initiative of building a strong government institutions to ensure effective and efficient handling of Diaspora affairs. The Bank also pledged to work in partnership with African governments, the African Union Commission, other development donors, and the Diaspora, a number of specific activities aimed to affect directly and positively the African Diaspora and their activities in Sub-Saharan African countries.

Ideas were also sought on broader African development challenges and opportunities. Discussions centered on Governance and capacity development; private sector development; youth and employment; women’s empowerment; information communications technology; and the delivery of services such as health, education, and social protection.

The Kenyan delegation to the Open House also included the Kenyan Ambassador to the US, Mr. Peter N. R. O. Ogego, officers from the Ministry Headquarters and the Kenya Embassy in Washington D.C.