Photo credit @truenairobi
The number of Kenyans living and working abroad is fast rising and projected to hit 3million in 2017. Migration to other countries has often been linked to seeking of opportunities professionals, education and just as tourists. They maybe miles away but as always in the Kenyan spirit, they have kept constant touch with their roots.
Kenyans in the UK, USA, Germany are among the biggest communities living outside their origin country. Middle east is also coming up as a major destination for Kenyans seeking employment. Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Yemen lead in the region. And according to discussions on their social media groups, they are a force to reckon with in terms of supporting their families back home.
Remmittances
Kenyans in Diaspora contribute directly towards growth of the economy through regular sending of remittance. According to the world bank report for the year 2014/2015, Kenyans in the diaspora defied the grim state of the global economy sending to their motherland a record $1.6 billion (Sh163 billion) in remittances.
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Money sent home is used for several basic needs. These include paying for school fees, purchase of food and household items, sorting recurrent bills and on health. Besides, Kenyans in diaspora send money home to help their kin in raising capital investment in small businesses.
Skills
Students learning abroad also develop useful skills which more often are brought back home. Professionals working abroad also get equipped with experience which consequently gives them confidence to come and start a related business back home, teach a university or work in the home country. A good number of intellectual elites who attended foreign universities are serving the nation in various sectors.
Another aspect is the cultural sharing and the marketing Kenya as a great country to visit. This has greatly influenced tourism and foreign investment.
On the whole, it is evident that communities living and working abroad actively play a role in supporting the local economy both in remittances, Marketing and utilizing skills back home. This is very substantial and really improved the living standards of their families back home.
Writer: Effie Ochago
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