Kenya, Armenia sign landmark MoU on diaspora affairs cooperation

In a statement on Friday, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs said the MoU will provide a framework for structured cooperation between the two countries in engaging their diaspora communities more effectively. It is aimed at enhancing collaboration in areas such as diaspora consultation, cultural exchange, youth engagement, knowledge sharing, and joint awareness initiatives.

Under the MoU, the two countries will cooperate in areas including diaspora consultation, youth engagement, knowledge exchange, joint awareness initiatives, and cultural heritage promotion. The partnership is also expected to strengthen shared values among diaspora communities and encourage closer people-to-people ties.

A Joint Committee will be established to oversee the implementation of the MoU. The committee will be responsible for coordinating activities under the agreement, conducting periodic reviews, facilitating information exchange between the two sides, and proposing new areas of collaboration as the partnership evolves.

"The Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the State Department for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, serving as the implementing agencies of this MoU, will establish a Joint Committee to oversee implementation, conduct periodic review and monitoring, facilitate information exchange, and propose new areas of collaboration on diaspora affairs," the statement read.

The government said the agreement aligns with Kenya’s broader foreign policy and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which recognises the diaspora as an important pillar in national development. The diaspora is seen as a vital source of investment, skills transfer, and cultural linkages that contribute to economic growth and global partnerships.

Officials further stated that the MoU is expected to open new opportunities for engagement between Kenyan and Armenian diaspora communities, particularly in youth empowerment programmes, cultural initiatives, and capacity-building exchanges.