Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Mutua, on Thursday, November 17, urged Kenyans in the United States of America (US) to open a Kenyan bank for their savings in the country.
Mutua, speaking in a meeting with Kenyans in Seattle, Washington, noted that the bank would help to maximise the diaspora community's contribution to development projects in Kenya.
The CS also stated that President William Ruto had initiated plans to extend Kenyan mobile services to Kenyans in the US and subsequently increase diaspora remittances.
"I have encouraged Kenyans to join together, we open a Kenya bank in America so that equity in the US can be used as collateral for financing projects back home," the CS noted.
Further, Mutua elaborated on plans by the government to offer trade and investment services to the diaspora community in the various missions and consulates.
This, he noted, would enable them to leverage the proposed public-private partnerships in sectors like housing and infrastructure.
On the challenges faced by Kenyans abroad in securing legal documents, Mutua noted that his ministry was negotiating for their immunity from arrest or deportation.
The government would also establish additional consulates and missions in different parts of the US to solve the problems faced by the community.
"As a Government, we are also committed to providing services to Kenyans who get into legal issues and are looking at requesting the United States Government for immunity for Kenyans who are out of status so they can be legalized," he stated.
In addition, the CS promised to iron out hurdles Kenyans experienced in securing dual citizenship, which he underlined is a constitutional right.
The affairs of Kenyans living abroad formed a substantive part of President Ruo's manifesto during the campaigns.
Ruto promised to address their grievances by creating a special department to address their plight.
He also underlined the potential of remittances of Kenyans who live and work abroad and vowed to maximize benefits to the economy of Kenya.
