Tuesday, June 2, 2026(NAIROBI)__The State Department for Diaspora Affairs today hosted the Diaspora Dinner and Conference 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre-KICC, convening diaspora leaders, partners and stakeholders to discuss how the Kenyan diaspora can accelerate national development.
In her keynote, Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary, Ms. Roseline Kathure Njogu, CBS, said the second edition, themed “Invent, Innovate, Implement-The Diaspora and Kenya’s Development Journey”- builds on momentum from the first Diaspora Investment Conference held in December 2023.
The PS conveyed warm greetings from H.E President William Samoei Ruto, PhD, and Prime Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, and thanked diaspora representatives for their ongoing support.
PS Njogu outlined government progress in strengthening diaspora engagement, noting improvements in labour mobility frameworks, bilateral labour agreements, expanded consular services and digital engagement platforms, as well as new policies to protect Kenyan migrants.
The PS said the State Department’s work rests on three aspects of protecting and empowering Kenyans abroad; facilitating safe, orderly and regular migration; and enhancing diaspora participation in national development.
With over four million Kenyans living and working overseas, PS Njogu emphasized the diaspora’s role beyond remittances — as entrepreneurs, professionals, researchers and investors who transfer skills, technology and networks to Kenya.
She also urged diaspora members to move beyond remittance-led support toward productive investments, mentorship, research collaborations and skills-transfer across priority sectors including affordable housing, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy, the digital economy, tourism and the creative industries.
The conference followed development tours last week during which participants visited affordable housing projects, strategic infrastructure sites, environmental conservation initiatives and philanthropic programmes, gaining first-hand insight into projects under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda-BETA.
Two panel discussions — “Roadmap to Deepening Diaspora Direct Investments (DDI)” and “Skilling Kenyan Talent and the Place of Diaspora in a Rapidly Changing and Dynamic World” — sought practical strategies to boost diaspora investment, technology exchange and human capital development.
PS Njogu said the discourse aimed to produce actionable recommendations that position the diaspora as a central partner in Kenya’s socio-economic transformation.
She concluded by calling for unity and sustained partnership between government and diaspora associations to turn ideas into tangible projects that benefit Kenyans at home and abroad.
The event also provided an opportunity to take stock of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs’ progress since its establishment and to reaffirm the government’s commitment to Kenyans in the diaspora.
The event was attended by the top leadership of the State Department led by Amb. Hellen Gichuhi, Secretary for Diaspora Welfare and Partnership and Amb. Isaiya Kabira, Secretary for Diaspora Investment, Skills and Entrepreneurship.