Remittance from Kenyans in diaspora increased despite Covid 19 pandemic
By Anthony Mwangi, July 27, 2021Kenya’s envoys in Europe and Asia have expressed their pressure on the way Kenyans in diaspora managed to handle themselves during the Covid 19 pandemic.
In particular the envoys noted that remittance by those in their countries increased even as the countries faced the coronavirus outbreak.
The ambassadors were speaking at a diaspora forum in an event organised by the Kenya’s foreign affairs ministry in conjunction with Philanthropist and Entrepreneur Lydia Tett Olet.
“In United Kingdom there was a remarkable increment of remittances to Kenya because of the number of Kenyans living here. Though there was a lockdown here, the government supported citizens who had their businesses affected hence making the cash flow to Kenya consistent,” noted Deputy Head of mission United Kingdom Joakim Kamere during an interview by Lydia Tet Olet.
In June, Kenyans in diaspora sent Sh33.1 billion where United still remained the leading country followed closely by Qatar.
For instance in Qatar, despite Kenyans losing their jobs, the government there still offered a helping hand as it provided them with enough food and some pocket money.
“Here in Qatar the reality is that no one pays rent or transport. Your employer facilitates you with everything you need. Another advantage we have here is that we don’t have places like bars where people go to take alcohol and if one does they always have to pay sin tax which is quite expensive,” said Ambassador Paddy Ahenda.
In terms of vaccination, Ahenda said that all Kenyans in Qatar have been vaccinated and majority of them have even resumed their jobs.
“As we speak Qatar has over 92 percent of people who are vaccinated by the pfeizer vaccine. Kenyans are among the lot that has been fully vaccinated”, he said.
At the same time Ahenda said over 10,000 kenyans have gone back to their jobs.
Similar was the situation in Switzerland and Italy.
However in countries like China not much was recorded in terms of remittances.
Being the epicenter where covid-19 was first identified, Ambassador Sarah Serem said most Kenyans living their are students who actually depend on grants.
“China was one of countries affected and the reality is that we still have some students who are still struggling to come back. Through the mission we are trying all we can to ensure they have come back for their studies”, she said.
Serem said even those who had jobs are struggling as most jobs are just side hustles where no proper documentation is required.
Same was the situation in countries like India there was no much to celebrate as most Kenyans visit the country for medical purposes.
According to Ambassador Willy Bett, the mission based in New Delhi actually was forced to support some kenyans who were stranded as the country was also on lockdown.
Bett said the mission had to source different ways of how they will accommodate kenyans who were forced to stay longer after the country went into a lockdown in the fisrt wave of corona.
“We have a very unique diaspora here as most kenyans living come here for medical purposes.
The high volumes come as Kenyans in the diaspora continue to provide a crucial lifeline to the local economy.
In the last six years, diaspora remittances have become Kenya’s largest source of foreign exchange since 2015 when they overtook earnings from horticulture and Tea.
Remittances not only represent an important source of forex but also support many livelihoods.
Education, healthcare, and household needs are the main uses of remittances in Kenya, an analysis by global payments company, WorldRemit, indicates, sectors that tend to have a multiplier effect on development.