President William Ruto has unveiled a digital platform aimed at connecting Kenyans living abroad with investment opportunities in the country and promoting their contribution to national development. The Kenya Diaspora Impact Platform was launched on Sunday evening during a meeting between the President and Kenyans living in the United States in New York. This platform is designed to deepen engagement with the Kenyan diaspora, formalize investment commitments, and unlock opportunities in strategic sectors of the economy.
The launch of the platform coincided with the signing of a joint Declaration of Intent involving the Kenyan Government, the United Nations, and Equity Group Holdings. The Letter of Intent was signed at 30 Hudson Yards in New York by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on behalf of the Government, Equity Group Holdings chief executive James Mwangi representing the private sector, and UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Garry Conille on behalf of the diaspora. This agreement marks a significant step in collaboration between the government, private sector, and international organizations to support diaspora engagement.
President Ruto described Kenyans living abroad as an important part of the country's growth story, noting that their contribution extended beyond remittances to include investment, expertise, innovation, and global networks. He emphasized that the new platform would facilitate diaspora participation in community projects, financing of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), enterprise development, and skills transfer. The President highlighted the potential for Kenyans abroad to make a meaningful impact on national development through this platform.
The President identified housing, healthcare, and agriculture as sectors offering investment opportunities to Kenyans living and working abroad. He stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on the reliability of information and transparency in its implementation. President Ruto emphasized that trust must be at the center for this initiative to succeed and that information must be reliable and transparent.
During the meeting, President Ruto also defended the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel importation model, describing it as a critical measure for stabilizing fuel supplies and managing foreign exchange. He dismissed claims that selected local oil marketers were acting as costly middlemen in the arrangement. According to the President, the model had improved the consistency and reliability of fuel supplies while reducing pressure on foreign exchange.
President Ruto outlined key achievements of his administration in various sectors, including agriculture, education, housing, healthcare, savings, digital infrastructure, and road development. He urged Kenyans in the diaspora to seek reliable information about developments in the country rather than relying solely on social media. The President highlighted the growth in national savings under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which had increased from Sh320 billion in 2023 to Sh690 billion.
President Ruto projected that national savings would reach Sh1 trillion by June 2027, attributing the growth to the introduction of a contribution system based on six percent of an employee's salary, matched by a similar contribution from employers. He also defended the Social Health Authority (SHA), urging Kenyans abroad to disregard what he termed misleading criticism of the programme. The President said SHA had registered 33 million Kenyans since October 2024.
Key points
- President Ruto unveils the Kenya Diaspora Impact Platform to connect Kenyans abroad with investment opportunities.
- The platform aims to deepen engagement with the Kenyan diaspora, formalize investment commitments, and unlock opportunities in strategic sectors.
- President Ruto defends the Government-to-Government fuel importation model, citing improved fuel supplies and reduced pressure on foreign exchange.
