Parliament Urged To Fund Diaspora Job Agency

The Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, has urged Members of Parliament to fast-track the operationalization of the Diaspora Placement Agency to help Kenyans secure jobs abroad.

Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, Njogu emphasized that the agency—created in 2023 to support Kenyans seeking work overseas—remains inactive due to budget cuts.

While presenting her ministry’s budget estimates for the 2025/2026 financial year, PS Njogu revealed that the State Department had only received an allocation of Sh587.8 million, far below the Sh1.2 billion needed to effectively deliver its mandate.

“Our funding has been reducing every year. In 2023/24 we received Sh1.31 billion, followed by Sh637 million in 2024/25. Now we have only Sh587.8 million, which limits our operations significantly,” she said.

She added that the Diaspora Placement Agency is a key pillar of Kenya’s global labour market strategy and is essential for connecting skilled Kenyans with international job opportunities.

“About 33% of our national budget goes to education. But after graduation, many young people struggle to find jobs locally. This agency is meant to bridge that gap by helping them find work abroad,” she explained.

PS Njogu also called for urgent funding to establish Safe Houses in countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, and the UAE. These shelters would offer protection and emergency support to vulnerable Kenyans working abroad.

“There are over 250,000 Kenyan labour migrants in need of assistance. It is unfortunate that despite the billions they send home in remittances, we are limited in helping them when they face distress,” she said.

Kajiado Central MP Memusi Kanchory backed the PS, citing the Philippines’ Safe House in Doha as a model Kenya should follow. “I have seen first-hand the impact of such facilities. They are lifesaving,” he said.

Committee Chairperson Nelson Koech urged the PS to initiate dialogue with the National Treasury to address the funding gap. “We understand the urgency. You must continue engaging Treasury to push for more support,” he said.

However, MPs raised concerns over possible duplication of roles between the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Ministry of Labour. The Committee called for harmonization of duties between the two offices to avoid overlap and improve service delivery.