Diaspora Nationals and Their Role in Promoting International Business: A Case of Kenyans in Dispora

Abstract

Nationals in diaspora from any country are a national resource that needs to be harnessed. Tremendous contributions to the national economies have been made by diaspora Nigerians, Tanzanians, Indians, Kenyans, Rwandans, Southern Sudanese and Somalis. How can the home governments tap into this rich national resource, and can there be a conscious ethical obligation on both sides of diaspora nationals and home governments? This study was conducted between 2005 and 2013 with two objectives: one, to determine whether nationals in diaspora understand their ethical obligation towards home governments; and two, to demine whether the home governments have any obligation or even understand their ethical obligation towards their nationals in diaspora. A sample of Kenyans in diaspora residing in five geographical regions were selected:  USA, UK, EU, South Africa, and Rwanda. Results indicated that few nationals in diaspora understand very little their moral and ethical obligation to their homeland, and some government officials do not see the need of supporting nationals in diaspora. The conclusion was that there was need to raise awareness of ethical responsibility for both diaspora nationals and home governments for the sake of national development.

Key Words: Diaspora nationals; ethical obligations; home governments; diaspora contributions to home economy, diaspora remittances; moral agents.