Gov't Urges Kenyans In Diaspora to Register With Embassies
Kenyans in the diaspora have been urged by government to register with Kenyan embassies or High Commissions in the countries they are currently living in.
In a statement by Foreign Affairs Ministry, Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma said it is important for Kenyans in abroad to register with the embassies so they can be able to receive crucial services and government's assistance in case of any problems while in the diaspora.
"I urge every Kenyan abroad to register with the nearest Kenyan Embassy or High Commission; you may also register online by sending an email message to diaspora@mfa.go.ke or call +25420494992," said Ambassador Monica Juma in a statement posted on Kenya's Foreign Affairs Ministry official Twitter Handle.
"The lives, property and safety of every Kenyan abroad is a top Government priority. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure that every Kenyan everywhere is safe."
The government estimates that there are about 3 million Kenyans in the diaspora, mainly in the US, Europe, and Canada, and others in the rest of the world.
Comments (26)
If they can't protect Kenyans in Kenya, how are they going to protect them abroad. Kenyans going abroad is because they are economically unsafe in Kenya!
They don't even Contribute to Diaspora Funeral Expenses or Urgent needs.
"the lives, safety of every Kenyan abroad is a top government priority" what a joke. Is that why you have made voting so hard for diasporans? Going by history all you care about is remittances. You should have started off by showing us your track record as most don't have any faith in you.
Start with middle east. They need you most than anybody else
Are these Embassies going to do anything different that what they have doing? The Washington Embassy cannot handle simple matters like renewing or getting a new ID card or passport. How will this Embassy help? They just want to find more cows to milk with taxes etc
The Washington office should be closed.It is only there to pay salaries to the useless staff.Can Mrs.Kagwanja explain to Kenyans why a govt.office,yaani DC embassy opens for only three hours,three days a week only?Can she explain why phone calls are never answered?Does she know that it's better to send somebody traveling to Kenya to renew a passport than the cost,time and dirty language you encounter at the useless DC embassy?
They want to know the number of people living in diaspora so that they start STEALING from them,coz they have done so to the poor Kenyans and now they don't know where to turn to,except diaspora now,NG'O we are not registering kama huna kazi ya kufanya stop pretending to your master that you are working,just keep quiet and be paid.
Put all those resources in Middle East where Kenyans are tortured like slaves
Good idea is to start with addressing the insecurity inside Kenya....too much insecurity it's forced many to fear ever going back
Can Mrs.Kagwanja confirm radio reports that six people have been shot dead around Gikuni & Wangige(18 km from her office) area alone last week before she offers me(9000 miles away) protection?Simple question-Why does this useless govt want to know yet it provided me with nothing when i was at home?Can waKagwanja concentrate more on providing water for irrigation to people of Murang'a,where she is married and UKambani her birth place so that they can feed themselves?
Ahhh.... no, no no! Not me! As Kenya has said, start with the middle east. You never help out when needed! You are trying to be nosy and messy. Register?!
What a joke
What a joke
Why now? Somebody help please
We are divided abroad the same way as in Kenya. Instead of governing the diaspora, you better partner. Some small favors like importing right hand cars issue are crushed by those officials for no apparent reason. Voting right was,also crushed. The other day we heard the joke of taxing the diaspora. Who did you consult? The diaspora like matatu industry was not formed by The government. But the government is the beneficiary in a big way of these two industries. Instead of sitting back and enjoying, you are now trying to milk the diaspora like you have done in the transport informal sector. We love our Kenya and Kenya must love us back to keep the relationship.
Chicken shit
I can only register my frustrations with the so called Kenya Government!
Register my foot. Two months gone and still waiting for my renewal passport. No one picks the phone. Washington Embassy is a joke. When you call and select consular services/Kenyan passport, the phone disconnects. Doesn't matter how many times you attempt. Does Mrs kagwanja or even Amina Mohammed know this? Ng'O. First fix all these little things we keep that disenfranchise us, like voting, consular, services, etc., Else leave us alone.
Has anyone tried to call the Kenya embassy? What service delivery could they possibly be speaking of? They are either rude or downright incompetent, and most of the tjme both.
You will be wasting your time calling there. Nobody can answer anything the there. What is this thing they say at the Washington Embassy that: "Unajua tukishatuma diplomatic bag to our Foreign affairs Office in Nairobi, we have washed our hands" How can you wash hands on matters that concern passports and IDs when you are our point of contact?
Uhuru and Ruto should read the above comments about the incompetence of the Kenyan Embassy in the USA. Personally, I have given up calling them.
If the incompetence shown by the useless embassy workers is the way things are in Kenya, no wonder many Kenyans are not quick to re-settle back after living many years in foreign countries.
This is a way of finding a new grazing area. What would happen if we start sending money by "hand" straight to our families back home? First, it has been a big mistake to keep telling the world what Kenyans in the Diaspora are sending..This has awaken the giants and now, they want to tax us abroad and in Kenya! I am wondering if it makes sense to invest back in Kenya any more.
For example: You take a loan and buy a two family house/apartment to rent. You need any account with Bank XYZ to deposit the money from rent. So now, you have to pay your loan at a very high interest. Secondly, you deposit the money, you pay "deposit" tax and "exercise" tax. You need to pay tax on the rent you correct..about 10%. In addition, you MUST fill the IRS W-9 form with this Kenyan Bank. What a hassle. If you take the services of a Property Management Agency, that's another 10-15%. IS IT WORTH DOING THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT?
Cooperative Bank has a diaspora account that does not charge those silly fees for deposits. You only pay a fee when you transaction, i.e. EFT/RTGS, or pay a bill. They also do that w9 stuff. That you should do for yourself on FBAR, if you have 10k or more go through your account at any time during the tax year. Also 10% seems high on property management. It should be 5-7%. As for loan interest, eehh, borrow as much as you can from ulaya and as little as you can from Jamhuri...
Anos : Good job on the helpful comment. I have been wondering about this w9 form. Is it double taxation?
The day Kenyans in the diaspora will be united and speak with one voice is the day they will reap the benefit of numbers. All these problems would be addressed faster if we are talking as a group rather than as disgruntled individuals. But of course we think as tribes first before thinking as Kenyans. Register and let the government know who they’re dealing with.
What happens if you do not fill w9. Will IRS be on your neck?