Ruto hails Ksh643.5B diaspora inflow as Kenya’s leading foreign exchange source
President William Ruto has praised Kenyans working abroad for their immense contribution to the country’s economy, describing them as the single largest source of foreign exchange.
Speaking during the International Youth Day forum at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kakamega on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the President highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting Kenyans in the diaspora through the labour mobility programme.
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He explained that the initiative not only ensures that citizens seeking opportunities abroad are well-prepared but also that they receive structured assistance while working in foreign countries.
According to Ruto, the programme’s systematic approach, which includes tracking where Kenyans are going, the jobs they secure, their expected earnings, and the necessary support systems, has effectively eliminated the past challenges faced by migrant workers.
“For every Kenyan working abroad, we know where they are going, what job they will do, how much they will earn and how to support them. The days when Kenyans suffered outside Kenya without government support are behind us,” he said.
He said the initiative has significantly boosted diaspora remittances, with inflows growing from Ksh520 billion to Ksh643.5 billion in just two and a half years. The increase, he added, has cemented diaspora earnings as Kenya’s largest single source of foreign exchange, driven mainly by the efforts of young people taking up jobs overseas.
By streamlining the sector, Ruto maintained, the government has positioned the labour mobility programme as a sustainable pillar of economic growth, benefiting both the individual workers and the nation at large.
“Because of the labour mobility program, our diaspora remittance has in the last two and a half years grown from 4 billion dollars to 4.95 billion dollars. Our diaspora is the single largest foreign exchange earner for our country because of the young people who work outside the country. I have sufficiently organised that sector,” he stated.
The labour mobility initiative is designed to match skilled Kenyans with employment opportunities overseas, ensuring they are fully supported before departure and during their stay abroad. This includes securing contracts, verifying wages, and offering assistance to address any challenges they may face.
2024
In a past address, the President revealed that Kenyans living abroad sent home more than Ksh64.6 trillion in remittances in 2024. He also underscored the value of the diaspora community during a meeting with Kenyans in Cairo, Egypt, on January 30, 2025, while on a two-day state visit.
Kenya’s greatest asset is its knowledgeable, skilled and experienced human capital. Globally, Kenyans are renowned for hard work and innovation, and this explains the high demand for them in many parts of the world. As a result, Kenyans in the diaspora are playing a crucial role in our economy, remitting more than 4.94 billion dollars in 2024. Undoubtedly, they have become our largest foreign exchange earners,” Ruto said.
The Head of State stressed that these remittances have now overtaken traditional sectors such as agriculture and tourism in foreign exchange earnings. He added that the government remains committed to supporting Kenyans abroad as part of its broader economic growth strategy.
