Kenyans in Diaspora Commit to Improve Education Back Home

By Moses Adongo

Following appeals by Prof Mwenda Ntarangwi, CEO for Commission for University Education
(CUE), to diaspora scholars to work closely with their Kenyan counterparts in improving
education standards in Kenya, the diaspora community have agreed to support the government in
achieving improved education standards.
This followed a meeting of scholars based in US and Canada who were convening in Atlanta,
Georgia during the yearly Kenya Scholars and Studies Association (KESSA) on September 6-9,
2018.
The scholars agreed to incorporate the Kenyan government in launching a Kenya Diaspora
Fellowship Program and also a proposed Kenya Diaspora Investment Program, in a move that is
targeted to expand their involvement in growing the country. The contribution from the diaspora
community has majorly been through their revenue remittance and property investments back at
home.
Throwing in his support for the resolutions, Prof Kefa Otiso, a founder member of KESSA, said
that the programs would facilitate the achievement of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s legacy having
shown his appreciation for the diaspora involvement in Kenya’s governance programs.
The government, as Prof Mwenda revealed, is interested in tapping on the experience of Deans
and University presidents abroad as it looks to revamp the educational system here in Kenya.
The government has on its part laid down programs to develop and increase access to tertiary
education in the country and is expecting to get facilitation from the diaspora to ensure that its
plans for technical training succeed.
Ms. Jennifer Njuguna, a representative of Kenya Airways which partially sponsored the event,
revealed that the airline had offered to give discounted tickets to scholars and students who will
be flying from Kenya to the US and vice versa. This follows the recent authorization of Kenya
Airways to operate the Kenya- US route.
Kenyans living in the diaspora have increased their involvement in the governance of the country
and are continuously forming associations to pull them together for individual and collective
growth.
The government has in the recent past shown commitment in seeking the involvement of the
diaspora and has time and again held meetings with them either at home or abroad. This is
contrary to the past governments which for a long time failed to tap into the diaspora potential.

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