Gachagua’s diaspora pledges: what a president can deliver

Rigathi Gachagua has made a set of promises to Kenyans living abroad, including diaspora appointees in charge of embassies and reserved nominated seats in Parliament.

The Democracy for Citizens Party leader spoke to clergy and Kenyans in Boston, Massachusetts, at the weekend. He is touring the United States until 9 October.

Here is what he promised, and what each pledge would require.

Diaspora Kenyans in charge of embassies

Gachagua said he would deliberately choose Kenyans in the diaspora to take charge of embassies, and that where an ambassador is appointed, the deputy would come from the local Kenyan community.

Under Article 132 of the Constitution, the President nominates and appoints ambassadors and high commissioners with the approval of the National Assembly. Choosing diaspora Kenyans for those posts is within a president's power, subject to vetting.

Deputy heads of mission are different. They are usually career officers in the foreign service, employed through the Public Service Commission's rules. Reserving those posts for diaspora residents would require changes to how the foreign service hires, and could face challenges over fair competition for public jobs.

More consulates

He promised at least three new consulates, with locations chosen in consultation with the diaspora. He said Texas had made a case for one.

Opening a consulate requires the host country's agreement and a budget approved by Parliament. It is achievable, but it depends on money and diplomacy, not only on a promise.

Consular services through local agents

Gachagua proposed outsourcing applications for passports, IDs, birth certificates and marriage certificates to accredited local agents, so that Kenyans do not have to fly to a consulate. He said it made no sense for people to spend about $2,000 on a flight for a document.

This is the pledge with the most practical value for ordinary diaspora Kenyans. It is also the one with the biggest risks. Identity documents are high-security items, and outsourcing collection of biometric data raises questions about data protection and fraud.

Kenya's Data Protection Act would apply to any agent handling personal data. A workable system would need strict accreditation and auditing.

Nominated seats for the diaspora

Gachagua said DCP would reserve a parliamentary nomination slot for a diaspora representative, and one diaspora nominee per county assembly where the party wins enough nomination slots.

This is within a party's control. Article 97 of the Constitution provides for 12 members of the National Assembly nominated by parties in proportion to their strength, to represent special interests. Parties draw up their own lists, and a diaspora nominee could be included.

But nominated seats are limited and depend on the party's share of elected seats. A slot exists only if DCP wins enough seats to earn nominations.

There is no separate constituency for the diaspora. Creating elected seats for Kenyans abroad would need a constitutional amendment.

That distinction matters for how voters judge the offer. A promise that depends only on a president's signature can be tested against a candidate's record and character. A promise that depends on Parliament, the Public Service Commission or a referendum also depends on winning allies, and should be presented that way on the campaign trail.

Consular reform has been promised before. Successive governments have expanded e-citizen services so that some applications can be made online, but passports and IDs still require biometric capture in person, and appointments at missions abroad are often scarce.

Mobile consular services, where officials travel to cities with large Kenyan communities for a few days, are a cheaper alternative that some missions already use. A clear comparison of costs and risks would help voters judge Gachagua's proposal against what exists.

Export commissions

He also proposed a mechanism for diaspora Kenyans to earn commissions selling Kenyan products such as tea, coffee, avocados and macadamia nuts. He gave no details of how commissions would be paid, who would fund them, or how the scheme would relate to existing export promotion agencies.

The context

Gachagua has spent much of the past month touring US cities. In September he pitched a diaspora-owned bank and set out tourism and jobs plans in Dallas.

The diaspora is courted for its money and its votes. Remittances are one of Kenya's largest sources of foreign exchange, and the IEBC plans to expand diaspora voter registration for 2027.

The tour also coincides with a US Supreme Court decision allowing third-country deportations, which affects Kenyans with removal orders. Gachagua's remarks in Boston did not address it.

Diaspora remittances have become one of Kenya's biggest sources of foreign currency, with Central Bank figures putting annual inflows at roughly US$5 billion in recent years. That economic weight is one reason every major candidate is courting Kenyans abroad.

Diaspora voting is still limited. Only presidential votes are cast abroad, and only in countries where the IEBC sets up registration and polling. The IEBC has said it plans to expand to 26 countries for 2027.

Gachagua's remarks in Boston also covered personal matters, which drew headlines at home. For voters weighing the diaspora offer, the policy commitments are what can be tested, and DCP's manifesto should set them out in writing with costs.

What to watch

First, whether DCP publishes its nomination list rules, and whether a diaspora slot is written into them.

Second, detail on the consular-agent plan, including how data would be protected and how agents would be vetted.

Third, how other candidates respond. Diaspora policy is likely to become a campaign issue, and voters abroad can compare the offers.