Principal Secretary Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu
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Kenyans living in the Diaspora have accused the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Ministry of dealing with 'cons' based in Nairobi on matters concerning them.
In a heated discussion on Twitter between the Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Roseline Njogu, and a group of Kenyans living overseas, the ministry was displayed in a bad light after it emerged that the government had nominated individuals who are not abroad to a technical committee to talk to the Capital Markets Authority on the subject of encouraging Diaspora Investment.
In a leaked memo, The Principal Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry, Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, recognized individuals who were seconded by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to form a Technical Working Group to confer with the Kenya Markets Capital Authority on Diaspora Investment Strategies. These individuals purported to represent Kenyans in the Diaspora. The memo was circulating on Twitter and was labelled "Mobilizing Diaspora Remittances for Investments".
“Reference is made to the following letters from State Department for Foreign Affairs Ref. MOFA. DIAS/6/Vol.1 dated 27th March 2023, Kenya Investment Authority Ref. No. KenIvest/IP/11/1 dated 24th March 2023 and Capital Markets Authority Ref No. CMA/CONF/01 dated 24th March 2023 on the above subject matter. This State Department has constituted a Technical Working Group comprising of your nominees with the inclusion of two members from Kenya Diaspora Alliance and this State Department.” states the memo.
Kenyans in the Diaspora were outraged to discover that the government was implementing such a major plan without taking into account any of their views. They expressed distrust towards the various groups based in Nairobi claiming to be the Diaspora's representatives. Ms Margaret Rulhoff based in Germany questioned the legitimacy of the Kenya Diaspora Alliance to speak for the Diaspora without consulting anyone abroad. Additionally, she highlighted the gender disparity in the appointments which are not in line with the anticipations of those living overseas.
Former IEBC Commissioner, Dr Roselyn Akombe, now based in New York, USA, pointed out that it is “interesting that while Kenyans in the Diaspora have their own active organizations and leaders, the government chooses to work with some non-Diaspora based individuals of questionable repute. And expect that we will then channel our hard-earned money through such mechanisms.”
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My fellow Kenyans in the Diaspora especially if you now have children and claim US Citizenship, it is time you start rethinking your investment strategies.
See, your American born children, now US Citizens, will significantly benefit if, after you die, they get to inherit your American investments.aka generational wealth.
How do you think the Hispanic/Latino community are who they are today here in the States?
Let your hard earned $$ remain here where you have more power and influence over it. You pay your taxes here, you vote here and you even have the opportunity to sit for certain government offices thus, having a say on policies affecting your $$, your children education etcetera.
It is time you let the Kenyans in KENYA ride their own.
Some of us are heavily invested here and happy to continue.
Bloom where you are planted!
Dear Vic,
I'm one Kenyan who despite ridicule thought this way. I have many friends who now regret investing in Kenya massively neglecting their children , marriages, health , you name it. Yours truly any investmentin Kenya ATM is at 1% - yes again my diaspora frown on me.
I have heavily invested in my children, my health and my happiness. I'm grateful for Kenya, I grew up there and if we had good governance ethics etc, by all means I would pour my everything to it.
As years have gone by, I have become disillusioned. I barely have any $ in my Kenyan bank account. I decided to invest in a country where my children are.
However I do encourage them to give back to homeland either through their careers etc but I want to make sure they are set in this country. They are citizens of the world and that's who they are leaning towards .If Kenya becomes their base one day, heck I will be very proud.
Hii dunia ni kupitia, wherever makes you happy , do it and for me Kenya ain't it! Blunt!
America kids might start flipping you off by 18 years. Anyway it depends on how spoiled good or bad. Kila mtu atanyolewa style yake bahaliyake.
50-50 life wherever you are.
Sorry to disappoint- mine were raised well and very impressionable beings = I was present from day one and I'm very grateful to God for that.
Wewe kaa hapa. Hata hao mameki watakuwa wanakusafisha matako yako huko nursing home. Na hawataki mchezo ukionga vibaya. Kama unafikiria watoto wako watakuosha fikiria tena.
Sasa kila mtu ajipange. Hakuta mtu ako na majibu ya haya maisha.
Volume please!
If you hear investments, the diaspora community, political appointees, and the Gachagua and Ruto administration in the midst; please run for the Aberdare or Virunga mountains in the DRC. This administration is made up of man-eating crocodiles and believe me, diaporans will be an easy meal.
Niliwaambia Ruto anatafuta pesa.