National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called on Kenyan ambassadors to focus on economic diplomacy as a key driver of the country’s development.
Speaking in Washington, D.C., during a meeting with Kenya’s Ambassador to the U.S., David Kerich, and embassy staff, Wetang’ula stressed the importance of leveraging Kenya’s diplomatic presence to attract trade and investment opportunities.
“Washington is not just another diplomatic post; it is the seat of the World Bank, IMF, and the heartbeat of global decision-making. Engaging effectively here means opening doors for Kenya’s growth, attracting investments, and securing beneficial trade agreements,” he stated.
Wetang’ula, who is leading a parliamentary delegation at the Annual National Prayer Breakfast in the U.S., highlighted the critical role of the Kenyan diaspora in economic growth. He urged envoys to reconnect second and third-generation Kenyans abroad with their roots and encourage them to invest back home.

“The old model of the diaspora was simple—sending money home to parents. But now, we have generations born here who have little connection to Kenya. We need to reconnect them, offer incentives, and encourage them to invest back home,” he said.
Ambassador Kerich revealed that remittances from Kenyans in the U.S. hit $4.2 billion this year, underscoring the diaspora’s economic significance. He appealed for increased funding to improve consular services and facilitate mobile outreach programs for Kenyans across the U.S.
The Speaker also emphasized the need to maximize opportunities under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), warning that Kenya was underutilizing the duty-free export benefits to the U.S. market.
“We punch below our weight. Bangladesh, without AGOA, exports more apparel to the U.S. than the entire African continent combined. We must fully exploit AGOA, attract investors to our Export Processing Zones, and expand our value-added exports,” he urged.
Wetang’ula concluded by affirming Kenya’s commitment to fostering international partnerships that support its economic growth and enhance diplomatic ties.