Thursday, June 11, 2026(HELSINKI)H.E President William Samoei Ruto, PhD, has affirmed that the skills and knowledge possessed by Kenyans living abroad will be instrumental in propelling Kenya to the next level of development.
Speaking during a presidential diaspora town hall engagement with over 500 Kenyans in Helsinki, Finland, during his State Visit, President Ruto emphasized that the country’s ambition to transition from a developing to a developed economy requires the collective contribution of all citizens, including those in the diaspora.
The Head of State noted that several key sectors stand to benefit from the technical expertise of Kenyans abroad, citing energy, innovation and technology, and education, health, research as critical areas for growth and collaboration.
“The vision of transforming Kenya into a first-world economy calls for all hands on deck, including the invaluable contribution of our diaspora community,” he stated.
President Ruto, who was accompanied by First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto, also encouraged Kenyans living abroad to remain patriotic and actively contribute to national development. He described Kenya as a country full of opportunity and potential.
The event was attended by senior government officials, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries: Mr. William Kabogo(Information, Communications and the Digital Economy) and Mr. Lee Kinyanjui(Investments Trade and Industry), Principal Secretaries: Ms. Roseline K. Njogu(Diaspora Affairs), Mr. Abubakar Hassan(Investment Promotion) and Kenya’s envoy to Sweden and accredited to Finland, Amb. Angeline Musili, among others.
The engagement featured an interactive question-and-answer session.