MPs push diaspora reforms amid job export boom
Members of the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee have called for comprehensive reforms and tighter oversight of Kenya’s growing labour export strategy, amid surging numbers of citizens taking up jobs abroad under new government-backed programmes.
As Kenya intensifies its efforts to link its skilled and semi-skilled workforce with global opportunities, lawmakers are keen to ensure the system evolves beyond mere deployment.
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The push is for a diaspora strategy that’s transparent, inclusive, and transformative, one that views every Kenyan abroad not just as labour, but as a vital partner in building the nation’s future.
During a fact-finding inspection at the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA) on Thursday, July 31, 2025, the Committee, led by Chairperson Nelson Koech, commended the department’s progress while raising concerns about coordination gaps, accountability, and the long-term vision for diaspora engagement.
“We recognise the work you do. But what is the correlation between the Diaspora Placement Agency and the Ministry of Labour?” Koech posed, highlighting confusion over the roles of different institutions involved in the labour mobility initiative.
Diapora reforms
The Diaspora Placement Agency, established under Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, is tasked with linking Kenyan workers to global employment opportunities. Principal Secretary Roslyne Njogu confirmed that the agency has already enabled hundreds of thousands of Kenyans to secure jobs abroad, signalling a booming migration trend aimed at tackling domestic unemployment.
Yet, even as the numbers grow, legislators urged greater transparency and structure. Kenya’s diaspora remittances hit Ksh643.5 billion in 2024, making them the country’s top foreign exchange earner. MPs insisted that such a powerful economic lever must be anchored in policies that both protect workers and harness their earnings for national development.
“We need to deal firmly with those spreading misinformation to our people,” the committee noted, emphasising the urgent need for laws to rein in rogue recruitment agents exploiting desperate job seekers.
In response, PS Njogu said the department is working with National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) to roll out grassroots sensitisation campaigns that will educate job seekers and expose fraudulent recruiters.
“We have about 10 million jobless Kenyans. The numbers we’ve achieved are a drop in the bucket. But we are committed to changing the narrative of the Kazi Majuu programme,” she said.
Njogu also outlined emerging efforts to safeguard Kenyans already abroad. A Diaspora Distress Repatriation Programme has repatriated 5,232 citizens from 19 countries facing crises. At the same time, the Department is pushing to reduce the cost of remittances to below 3per cent, aligning with global best practices to maximise earnings sent home.
Govt on diaspora investments
To deepen diaspora investment, the government is developing a Diaspora Infrastructure Bond while conducting educational webinars to guide Kenyans abroad on buying into Nairobi Stock Exchange assets and Treasury bonds.
“We want remittances not just to support families, but to fuel national growth,” Njogu explained.
The Committee emphasised that labour mobility should only be the beginning of a broader economic engagement strategy.
“Beyond getting people jobs abroad, you should boost investor confidence and bring diaspora remittances home to create jobs locally,” he said.
To streamline engagement, the State Department now oversees two specialised agencies: the Diaspora Placement Agency, which manages employment placements, and the Diaspora Investments Support Office, which acts as a one-stop shop to guide and attract diaspora capital.
Njogu further revealed that 26 Kenyan nurses had been deployed to the USA just the day before the meeting and shared plans to establish diaspora centres abroad. The first such centre is already in motion, with land allocated for its construction in Australia.
The Committee urged stronger legislative backing and financial support for the department to scale up its operations and seal existing policy loopholes.
“We will ensure you have the tools, laws, and funding needed to protect Kenyan workers abroad and maximise the economic benefits of the diaspora,” Koech said.
