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Kisii town has experienced a drastic transformation in recent years, thanks to millions of shillings of investments by Kenyans in the diaspora.
In the last few years, Kenyans abroad have put up apartment and office blocks, schools and hotels in Kisii town, making it one of the fastest growing urban centers in Kenya.
Dr Matundura Nyanchama, a diaspora returnee, says Kenyans abroad have invested heavily in properties in the South Nyanza town.
Nyanchama, who lived in the United States and served as chairperson of the Kisii community in the diaspora, notes that about 40 percent of the total inflows from the diaspora end up in Kisii, with half of it being pumped in real estate.
Data from Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows that Kenyans abroad sent home Sh197.12 billion in 2017, up from the Sh174.30 billion in the previous year.
Peter Momanyi, a Kenyan based in North Carolina has put up Sh10 million residential houses in Kisii’s Mwembe estate and earns more that Sh500,000 per month from the investment. He also owns a hotel at Nyambera.
“Life in the US should not be about working all year long, it calls for a brave soul that is willing to save and put something back home,” Momanyi tells Daily Nation.
He says he moved to the US in 1998 and first worked as a counselor for kids with attention deficit challenges. He later became an insurance agent and opened up branches in several states.
He has also acquired a parcel of land in Nairobi and is planning to set up residential flats.
“Life it is about making right calculations and putting money into things that make economic sense to you,” Momanyi says at his Mwembe residence.
Besama Nyakomi, another Kenyan in the diaspora who has started a model school at Mairiba in Kisii says the challenging life abroad pushed him to investing the little he gets back home. The institution will cost him over Sh10 million once complete.
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East or west Home is Home Diversify too we need Kisii avocados and Bananas ..what of an industry..miwa ebisukari..maybe as processed final products if fresh ones haziezi fika.
Invest more in modern farming methods, agricultural value addition and suchlikes. Hii ya mahoteli na real estates haitusaidii.
That is exactly where my mind is; thank you for saying that. These concrete jungles are just taking away more arable land that countries like UAE and Israel are salivating to lease in Africa just to feed their people. Africans we don't think, instead like you said invest in modern agriculture and you will even rake more money than hizi plotis!
Investing in agriculture and associated value addition sounds good on paper. In practice, it's a totally different story. I invest in real estate because of its passive income nature.
Unreliability of water supply, pests and diseases are some of the reasons that make agriculture a risky investment. Additionally, maintaining consistency, reliable markets, fluctuating prices add to the complications. I have not even started mentioning theft of produce, cops looking for their cut on the roadways, refrigeration etc. I recently spent months assisting a group of investors attempt to set up a mango processing plant in Machakos County. Consistency of the produce, farmers who commit to sell to the plant and the good old cartels complicated the attempts. Additionally, the PR governor Mutua seemed hell bent on frustrating the process if his name was not prominently in the project implementation.
Just like the matatu industry, agriculture is quite unorganized. There's lots to be gained by those who commit to professionalism. However, uncertainty brought about by outside forces causes many to shy away from the industry, especially if capital is acquired through financing.
Yes it's tough and ROI may not be realised as fast as plot is and yes it's all hands on and risky but nothing is impossible, patient, right tools, right biz savviness and right experienced people, so very doable . Btw not talking of small scale farming here, large scale operation. If Del Monte pulled it off in Africa , either proper financing totally doable but yes not for the faint hearted
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Wa wa wa wa hongera to those few who have seen kenya is somewhere u can make money.True east or west home is the best coz age kicks by day naukifikisha miaka ingine from 55-60 reality itakuchapa ukiwa hio majuu.Watu wadiaspora wakisumu wako wapi,invest in your county the way kisiis r doing?Diaspora there is big opportunities hapa home if u have small cash?Realeastate is good but if u can have a place u can farm too u will make good daily cash.Think of this 5 sukumawiki goes for 10ksh imagine u sell about 3000 pieces daily or other day n sukuma grows daily??U have about 1000 chickens which gives u mayai each tray cost 240ksh?Uko na dairy cows 10 unakamua each giving u minimum 25 litres??Na hii niya small farmer??U will easily b pocketing more than 700,000 easily monthly n imagine uko na hizo marentals kama huyo mko sio??Guys kuna pesa hapa nyumbani please think large??Peace
It's all good. Kenyans investing home but don't you think with all the remittance, the diaspora should have a seat at the table and make an impact on the local politics. Other than just the tu-Tribal groups people form in the diaspora which have no impact whatsoever on the quality of life or development in their rural homes. Kwanza hizi groups end up being za masengenyo tu. Halafu ujue wakisii hawapendani. Na hawainuani. Utapata mtu anajenga then watu hawampromote. It's widely known that Kisiis are just like Kikuyus shida tu ni umoja na kuinuana. The other puzzling thing is if you've ever lived in or visited Kisii county, CITY PLANNING IS HORRIBLE. Watu wanakula tu hongo left, right and center but there's very poor infrustructure. Wanaume hawana adabu wanakula ndogo ndogo, some even as young as 10 or 12years old. Prostitution is a MENACE. Starts as early as 8pm. You can't even enjoy a drink pole pole without seeing them na kuwekea watu michele. Ngai!! The whole place is OVERPOPILULATED. CONFUSION, GARBAGE. Yaani Kisii town needs prayers. And this is replicated in the neighbouring towns like Nyamira, Ikonge hata Kebirigo na Manga. Hizo town zingine ni Mungu tu atawasaidia. Investors really look at these things before they decide to move their business to towns and citys. The la or industry is also wanting. Don't get me wrong, Kisiis are very hard-working but if every National exam season they can't miss out on news about examination irregularities what do you think the rest of the country think about that? The teachers in Kisii, a majority have sexual relationships with their students OPENLY. The way they live is NOT a good example to the standard they should be held at. Halafu wakisii ni wajeuri (atleast a majority of them.) I know most will be up in arms over this comment. But if anyone is smart enough, they would rectify this or influence someone to rectify it. Remember nyumba au Jumba ni jiwe juu ya jiwe tu. There is more to a community or a city or a town. People look for wholesomeness. There's more that Kisiis need to send back home than just money🤗
Your documents highlights some observations which might be right or wrong most investors in Kisii niliona kina Holia ..Wahindi..kiuks..planing kweli ni mbovu..but kila kitu kuna starting point reason diaspora go for nyumba it is a bit easy to monitor and when done keep geting yr kapackage Farming really needs lots of personal attention..mjengo unapanga kazi na weekly/dairy..unasurvey progress wakifunga
Well done diaspora. That's how we transform our communities in to the"first world" status.
Of course this is not good news to racists in the USA who look at foreigners as "grabbers" of their wealth,and taking it to their countries.
Another good news is that these bigots dont read MWAKILISHI...Keep up the good work diaspora. Once we transform our communities,from border to border,and are self sufficient in everyway you can think of, Kenyans will have no need to leave the country,except as tourists,or seeking political asylum.But not as economic tourists,or running for greener pastures,because Kenya will be GREEN,again.Yes make Kenya GREENER PASTURES.My two cents