President William Ruto has explained the reason behind his move to create the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.

President Ruto, while speaking on Monday, December 9, 2024, during a Town Hall meeting at Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), mentioned Kenyans in the diaspora as the motive behind his decision.

According to President Ruto, the formation of the department was driven by the need to protect the rights and welfare of the Kenyan diaspora.

Diaspora’s needs

Ruto, who was responding to some of the questions raised during the Town Hall meeting, stated that Kenyans living abroad now have a dedicated state department focused solely on their needs.

Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu, who also spoke during the town hall, highlighted some of the department’s commitments.

Unscrupulous agents

She also used the opportunity to outline measures being implemented to protect Kenyans working abroad from exploitation by unscrupulous agents.

“At the same forum, Diaspora Affairs PS @roselinenjogu noted that the State Department is committed to prioritizing diaspora needs through job opportunities, initiatives like Kazi Majuu, and integrating the Kenyan diaspora into national development.

“The PS also outlined measures being implemented to protect Kenyans from exploitation by unscrupulous agents and to issue alerts regarding regions known for human trafficking,” a statement from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs reads in part.

Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya, his Labour, Skills Development and Social Protection counterpart Alfred Mutua, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja are some of the leaders that accompanied Ruto to the town hall meeting.

The town hall meeting was part of the Jamhuri National Job Fair activities and aimed to address various topics, including employment, labor mobility, and opportunities in the entertainment sector.

Representation

Representatives of Kenyans in the diaspora on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, appealed to former premier Raila Odinga for representation in the National Assembly.

In a statement, Raila noted that the delegation also requested improved access to registration and voting for Kenyans living and working abroad.

“I met representatives of the Kenyan diaspora who made a presentation to me on increasing access to registration and voting for Kenyans living outside the country. They also made an appeal for my support for representation at the National Assembly,” Raila said.