This archive report was first published on 28 December 2019.
Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) is set to launch a skills database to help Kenyans in the diaspora find jobs in the national and county governments.
Already, 2,000 Kenyan professionals living and working abroad have uploaded their resumes to the database, according to KDA president Shem Ochuodho.
Speaking during the 2019 diaspora convention in Nairobi, Ochuodho said KDA plans to register 10,000 professionals next year on the database, which will act as a basis for pitching for various job opportunities in the public service.
“In the last one year, diaspora Kenyans sent home KSh300 billion, making them the second-highest foreign income earner after tea. We have professional skills and experience earned abroad that could benefit our country economically,” Ochuodho said.
He noted that many Kenyans working in various sectors abroad have expressed their wish to return home to share their skills, and hailed the nomination of Kenyan-American Mwende Mwinzi as Kenya’s ambassador to South Korea as a welcome gesture for the diaspora community.
During the summit, speakers called for the establishment of a fully-fledged diaspora department to help scrutinize local companies that seek to offer Kenyans in the diaspora services and products.
