Kenya Steps Up Support for Diaspora Families Strained by Migration

The Kenyan government is intensifying its efforts to mend the widening rifts between its diaspora communities and their families back home. 

Acknowledging the emotional toll of migration, particularly on children left behind, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs is now championing faith-based initiatives aimed at reconnecting loved ones across continents. This commitment gained prominence at the recent Annual International Family Conference, hosted by the Umoja Presbyterian Church.

Ambassador Ann Wanjohi, representing Principal Secretary Roseline K. Njogu, reiterates the government's determination to mitigate the detrimental effects of emigration on Kenyan families. The conference, deliberately timed to coincide with the International Day of Families, served as a crucial platform for dialogue, addressing the often-unacknowledged emotional void created when parents seek economic opportunities abroad. 

The Umoja Presbyterian Church, uniquely positioned with a strong US-based congregation, aims to facilitate meaningful engagement and emotional reconciliation between Kenyan children and their parents residing in America.

This proactive stance reflects the pressing need to safeguard family cohesion amidst soaring emigration figures. 

With thousands of Kenyans annually seeking employment or educational prospects overseas, the strain on familial relationships is becoming demonstrably acute. The fact that the United States is home to over 47 million immigrants, a substantial number of whom are Kenyan, highlights the scale of this challenge.

The shadow of restrictive immigration policies, particularly those enacted during the Trump administration, casts a long shadow. Citizenship revocations and deportations have compounded anxieties, leaving families entangled in legal and emotional turmoil. In response, Kenya’s Diaspora Affairs department is positioning itself as a proactive partner, backing community-led initiatives designed to prioritise family welfare.