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The Kenyan Diaspora: Emerging Issues & Challenges

The Kenyan Diaspora: Emerging Issues & Challenges. Sam Ochieng SACOMA. Overview. Identify members of the Kenyan Diaspora; Sensitise them to the need for more structured and collective homeland development initiatives;

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The Kenyan Diaspora: Emerging Issues & Challenges

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  1. The Kenyan Diaspora:Emerging Issues & Challenges Sam Ochieng SACOMA

  2. Overview • Identify members of the Kenyan Diaspora; • Sensitise them to the need for more structured and collective homeland development initiatives; • Mobilise the Kenyan Diaspora into collective, strategic action for home development.

  3. Database: The Skills Bank • Lack of hard data on the number of Kenyans making up the Diaspora in UK. • No central database of professional Kenyans in the Diaspora – so no information on skills, knowledge and experiences/expertise. • Urgent need for Skills Bank and development of this MUST be driven by the Diaspora itself, using existing networks to identify Kenyans with an interest in homeland development. • Once the database is developed and populated, work can begin on mobilising the Diaspora into professional networks and associations.

  4. . Mobilising the Kenyan Diaspora • We have some data on homeland development activities of the Kenyan Diaspora: • Remittances to benefit immediate and extended family; • Remittances for local development projects; • Kenyan-led civil society organisations; • The recently formed UK-Kenya SACCO • Individual philanthropists. • Nonetheless efforts are largely fragmented, reducing their potential impact. • Real need to develop a UK-wide collective way of working.

  5. Mobilisation: Hometown Associations • Some Diaspora communities have had great success in development activities through a collective, strategic approach. • These collectives are often called “Hometown” Associations (HTAs), and comprise Diaspora that derive from the same area of home counties. • HTAs are often recognised by both home and receiving countries, and their initiatives are supported at government level. • In the immediate term, there is need to mobilise Kenyans to form HTAs.

  6. . Achievements: Kenya UK SACCO • Kenya UK Savings and Credit Society (SACCO) – known as Kenuks - was launched. • A vehicle for Kenyans to save, access loans and contribute to homeland development projects. • Plans in the pipeline includes affordable housing, businesses, and agricultural projects. • More later by the Kenuks Chair

  7. Challenges

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