ICTvillage.com .. Making Kenya the ICT hub of Africa

London - 1st to 5th September 2008
New York – 5th to 10th September 2008
Chicago – 10th to 14th September 2008
Los Angeles – 14th to 20th September 2008
Atlanta – 21st to 26th September 2008

Overview

Worldwide the role of the Diasporas in the development of their countries of origin is increasingly being recognized and given strong support from home. The human, material and financial contribution of people living outside their country of origin has proved to be critical in their home country’s development process.

China, India and Israel seem to be the best-known examples of countries that received a major developmental push from their nationals located throughout the world. These countries have succeeded in complementing the traditional financial support (remittances from Diaspora) with much more active involvement in their economic development.

Although the exact numbers of Kenyans in the Diaspora is not known, it is estimated that there are approximately two (2) million Kenyans living abroad. The Kenyan Diaspora has been playing an important role in the development of the country through remittances and promotion of Kenya’s economic development abroad.

However, until recently the role of the Kenya Diaspora in the development of the country was not acknowledged. It is evident that more is needed to facilitate the participation of the Kenyan Diaspora in the social, economic and political arena. The Diaspora renders concrete developmental assistance but these remain unheralded, unappreciated and without proper support from countries of origin.

Objectives

The Kenyan Diaspora remits over US$ 2 billion to Kenya every year through formal and informal channels making remittances the largest source of external capital. These remittances represent an important way out of extreme poverty for many people in Kenya by contributing to development in the following ways:

   • Supporting relatives and friends all over Kenya;

   • Purchasing Kenyan products and services;

   • Building residential and commercial property;

   • Investment in capital markets and enterprises;

   • Philanthropy and other social contributions;

   • Involvement in political party processes;

   • Promoting tourism and Kenyan culture.

With all the above in mind, the 2008 Kenya Diaspora Roadshow organized by ICTvillage.com seeks to engage members of the Kenyan Diaspora living in key cities in the United Kingdom and the United States of America and use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to radically transform Kenya’s economy, society, and politics.

Through this Roadshow, the Diaspora will meet with representatives from various organizations in the Government, public and private sector who will showcase their products and services as well as their ICT-driven solutions that will facilitate online interactions and transactions in Kenya on behalf of the Diaspora.