DP Gachagua to diaspora: Stay abroad, send money home

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.[Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged Kenyans living abroad to save and invest in their home country, not in foreign banks or markets.

He spoke at the closing of a three-day Diaspora Investment Conference at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on Friday, December 15.

Gachagua said the diaspora was the top foreign exchange earner for Kenya, beating tourism, coffee, and tea.

The Deputy President encouraged Kenyans abroad to save and invest in various sectors, such as Treasury bills, bonds, housing, and others.

He also promised to end double taxation for the diaspora and make it easy for them to bring money home.

But he said the country had enough problems with employment and did not need more people.

"Don't come yourself; we don't need you right now. We want you to stay there, but send money back home. You will come home eventually, but not now," he said.

He said the country needed every foreign currency it could get, and the government would come for their money if they didn't bring it back home.

"You are the people with the money, and I and the President are in need of it, and even if you don't bring it we will come for it where you are," he added.

Gachagua asked the diaspora to give feedback on the Kenyan envoys in their countries and report any laziness.

He said the government was taking care of the diaspora like eggs and dealing with them like walking on eggs.