Online platform to help diaspora access government services

Kenyans at a past event in Los Angeles, California, USA. Kenyans living abroad will soon access government services through an online platform, a director of Diaspora Affairs has said. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• “The expo seeks to erase these obstacles by providing a platform for the diaspora to engage with exhibitors on real estate investment opportunities in Kenya,” said Ms Kanyumba.
• Dubbed Kenyans Diaspora Homes Expo, the event is expected to attract about 300,000 Kenyans living in the United States and link them to businesses in Kenya.

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
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Kenyans living abroad will soon access government services through an online platform, a director of Diaspora Affairs has said.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Kenyans Diaspora Expo to be held in New York, the director, diaspora and consular affairs directorate, Mr Zachary Muburi, said the government will roll out an online platform to enable easy access to documents by Kenyans in the diaspora by the end of the year.

“There are a number of things that the diaspora wants the government to do for them — things like access to passports, national IDs, KRA PIN numbers and certificates and certificates of good conduct, among other vital documents.

“We are putting in place structures to ensure easier accessibility of these services. This is being done through the soon-to-be-launched diaspora Web portal,” he noted.

The platform is expected be a one-stop point for all government services, much like the Huduma Centre.

This comes on the heels of an expo by Kenyan companies in New York seeking to tap the diaspora market.

KENYANS DIASPORA EXPO

Dubbed Kenyans Diaspora Homes Expo, the event is expected to attract about 300,000 Kenyans living in the United States and link them to businesses in Kenya.

Speaking at the commissioning of the expo at a Nairobi hotel on Friday, Expo director Martha Kanyumba said Kenyans find it difficult and expensive to successfully invest in, especially, the property market back home.

“The expo seeks to erase these obstacles by providing a platform for the diaspora to engage with exhibitors on real estate investment opportunities in Kenya,” said Ms Kanyumba.

About 20 investment companies, seven financial institutions, insurance providers and propert developers will take part in the expo.

This year, diaspora remittances increased by 16.7 per cent to Sh10.1 billion ($116.1 million) in June, compared with Sh86.8 billion ($99.8million) in June last year, according to data from the Central Bank.

Exhibitors expected at the expo include King’s Pride Properties, who are the main sponsors, National Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, CIC insurance group and real estate franchise RE/MAX.