Meeting Between The National Treasury And Kenyans In Diaspora

Economic Planning Principal Secretary, Dr. Bonface Makokha, met with the representatives from the Diaspora Technical Working Group (DTWG) at the Treasury Building on 17th June 2025 afternoon.

Representing the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. FCPA John Mbadi, in a meeting which brought together members of the DTWG from different continents, the PS welcomed the team in Kenya and appreciated their presence in their homeland.

The meeting aimed at strengthening collaborations and addressing pressing issues affecting Kenyans residing abroad. The team shared their views and perspectives on the need for greater recognition in the budget inclusivity which reflects the interests of citizens living abroad. They also requested for budgetary consideration in different sectors such as health, higher education and diaspora voting process.

The team called upon the government to involve them in participating during the voting period through commissioning voter registration and allocating sufficient budget to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in order to promote democratic process in the country.

This will not only provide accurate data for people living abroad but will also increase diaspora remittances. They recommended that the country should leverage the modern technology to improve the quality of government services to reach the international standards.

The Diaspora Representatives highlighted their commitment in enhancing the country’s global image, promoting local brands, attracting foreign investments, fostering national development and skills transfer.

On his part, PS Makokha acknowledged the significant contributions made by the Kenyan Diaspora to the national Gross Domestic Product(GDP). He further pointed out that the government supports the inclusion of Kenyans living abroad in participating during the national development planning and budgeting process.

“This meeting marks a pivotal step in recognizing the diaspora not just as remittance contributors, but as key stakeholders in the national economic growth. Your experiences and insights can shape informed policy decisions,” PS Makokha said.

The PS reaffirmed the government’s dedication to strengthening partnerships with the Kenyan Diaspora with a focus on knowledge-sharing to drive innovative solutions, legislative frameworks for the country’s prosperity and economic empowerment.

In attendance during the meeting were: the DTWG Acting Chairperson, Danson Mukile, the Ag. Economic Planning Secretaries, James Maina, Festus Wangwe, Leah Chirchir, Representatives from the National Treasury, Rose Inyangala, the Diaspora Affairs, Andrew Limo and Diaspora Technical Working Group Members among others.