TAP FROM DIASPORA FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Kenyans living abroad have a responsibility towards nation building.  It is estimated that more than 3 million Kenyans reside in the Diaspora.  The Diaspora is an important pool of useful human resource that can help speed up our development goals but we need to develop strategies to mobilize their participation. Creating an enabling environment in the country will enable their inputs to be effectively integrated into the overall development plan and for them to make significant contribution to the country’s development.

First of all, there is a need to develop database on demographics profiles for Government and Diaspora mutual benefit. Secondly we need to improve governance through leadership development strategies to attract their participation. Develop structures framework for their effective contribution to national development.

Creating employment opportunities through short-tem engagements as consultancies and especially now that we have many projects to be implemented under Vision 2030 is another avenue that we can explore. Universities for example need to be flexible to accommodate visiting professorship in few month basis.

Strive to lower the country’s cost of doing business which has resulted into low number of investors willing to do business with us. Of paramount importance is the need to curb inefficiencies and seal all loop holes for corruption. We must not miss out on opportunities to access capital for business and industrial incubation which we need.

The development of a Diaspora policy is envisaged to maximize the Diaspora’s participation in national development issues and advocates for establishments of networks of skilled Diaspora based on their technical expertise, investment interests as well as policy related. The policy also advocates for the Diaspora establishing links with counterpart institutions at home for best practices.

We can reverse brain drain and develop local capacities and capabilities through tapping into the Diaspora’s immense talents. Best practices exist from countries like China and India which have capitalized on their links with their Diaspora and greatly developed their technologies.

Through opportunities like information technology, the Diaspora can participate virtually without necessarily coming back home.  Through expansion of education which has enabled distance learning, lecturers and professional in the Diaspora can give online classes.

Opportunity through dual citizenships as accorded by Constitution of Kenya 2010 will encourage more participation.

We must create awareness among the Diaspora of areas of investment potential in the country for them to effectively utilize their professional and entrepreneurs skills. We could explore the venture capitalist to support our innovation and stop our innovators rushing out for lucrative offers.

The Diaspora is a resource that cannot be ignored. The increasing remittances they send home are enough prove that they are willing to contribute to the country’s development yet we must creatively deploy them to offer their skills, expertise and experience into nation building. We must go beyond this. There are several Kenyans outside there working in areas where we are deficient in the country, such as space science, nuclear technology, material sciences, nanotechnology just to mention a few. We can easily tap the talent for national development. By all means they must also have a say in leadership of the country, hence efforts must be done for them to vote in the long run.