Principal Secretary for the State Department for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Kathure Njogu, CBS, is emerging as a prominent voice in Kenya’s efforts to transform diaspora engagement, labour mobility and global opportunities for Kenyan talent into meaningful drivers of national development.
Through her leadership at the State Department, PS Njogu has consistently advanced an agenda that views Kenyans living and working abroad not merely as recipients of government services, but as critical partners in investment, skills transfer, innovation, employment creation and economic transformation.
Her latest engagement at the Migration and Development Roundtable held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York has further underscored her growing role in shaping Kenya’s international labour mobility agenda.
Speaking during the strategic forum, Njogu presented labour mobility as a “triple win” that can benefit migrant workers, countries of origin and destination, as well as employers. She emphasised the importance of mutual recognition of qualifications to enable skilled Kenyans to access international job markets more seamlessly.
The PS’s intervention reflects a broader approach that places skills development at the centre of Kenya’s global workforce strategy. With Kenya’s youthful population, she has consistently highlighted the need to equip young people with skills that respond to emerging international labour-market demands.
Under her leadership, the State Department has continued to strengthen partnerships aimed at creating safe, structured and demand-driven pathways for Kenyans seeking employment abroad.
Njogu has also placed considerable emphasis on protecting Kenyans from exploitation during the migration and employment process. The government’s approach has included efforts to promote responsible recruitment, strengthen labour agreements and ensure that Kenyans accessing opportunities abroad are better prepared and protected.
The Kenya-Germany Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership has been among the initiatives through which the government is seeking to deepen structured labour mobility while strengthening skills development and cooperation between institutions in the two countries.
The State Department has similarly expanded engagements with other international partners to open additional opportunities for Kenyan professionals and skilled workers.
A notable feature of Njogu’s leadership has been the emphasis on ensuring that international opportunities also generate value for Kenya. Rather than viewing labour mobility simply through the lens of employment abroad, she has consistently highlighted the potential for diaspora professionals to contribute knowledge, expertise, investment and networks to the country’s development.