This evening in Washington DC, I held a candid and deeply engaging dinner with Kenyans in the diaspora.

Our conversations reflected a shared reality: even as they build new lives abroad, many Kenyans continue to carry the growing weight of supporting families and communities back home. Against a worsening economic climate, rising taxation, and shrinking opportunities for young people, the diaspora has become a vital stabilising force for countless households. Their sacrifice keeps many homes standing.

We also discussed the immense investment potential within our diaspora community. Kenyans abroad are eager to invest in enterprise, property, innovation, and long-term development. What they consistently ask for are clear, predictable policies that protect their investments, remove unnecessary barriers, and inspire confidence in national systems. With the right frameworks, the diaspora can remain one of Kenya’s strongest engines for growth and transformation.

A central part of our dialogue focused on the safety, dignity, and protection of Kenyans living and working abroad. The painful experiences of Kenyans caught up in the Russia–Ukraine war after leaving home in search of opportunity remain deeply troubling. These events have raised urgent questions about labour migration systems and the protection afforded to our citizens overseas.

Further concern has been sparked by last year’s New York Times investigation, which brought global scrutiny to how Kenya’s labour export programmes are being managed, including troubling links to structures that prioritise labour export without adequate safeguards for workers. These revelations have heightened anxiety within the diaspora about oversight, accountability, and the value placed on Kenyan lives and dignity abroad. These are issues that demand transparency and decisive action.
As the alternative government in waiting, we reaffirm our commitment to placing dignity, safety, and economic empowerment at the centre of national policy.
Kenyans in the diaspora are not distant observers, they are an integral part of our nation’s present and future. Their voices matter. Their contribution matters. Their welfare matters.

Together, we will continue working toward a Kenya that protects its people, respects their sacrifice, and builds a future worthy of their belief, a Kenya we can all be proud of. Together we shall Komboa Kenya.

I was joined at this engagement by Deputy Minority Leader of the National Assembly and Kathiani MP Hon. Robert Mbui, Makueni Senator Hon. Dan Maanzo, and Machakos County MCA Hon. Helen Ndeti.