“Respect laws of your host countries,” Mudavadi urges Kenyans in diaspora

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has stated that the Kenyan government remains stable, focused, and committed to delivering on its promises to the people, undeterred by political noise or distractions.

During his engagement with Kenyans residing in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, and Kenitra in Morocco, Mudavadi reassured them that, despite heightened political rhetoric back home, the government is steadfast in pursuing its development agenda.

“Don’t be bothered by what you see on social media back at home, it is just noise from a few disgruntled people. The government, which has been in power for over two years, is working in earnest to ensure that it delivers on its mandate to the millions of Kenyans,” said Mudavadi.

As the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Mudavadi highlighted key milestones such as the Affordable Housing Programme, which is now being implemented across the country, and the rollout of Universal Health Coverage, evidenced by the registration of over 21 million citizens to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), a significant increase from the 9 million previously covered under NHIF.

He acknowledged the challenges that can arise when implementing new programmes but expressed confidence that all well-intentioned projects will ultimately succeed.

“We cannot rule out that there are some people who may have benefited from some previous programmes and may not want the success of the ongoing programmes and would use every effort to scuttle them,” Mudavadi cautioned.

He encouraged Kenyans in the diaspora to serve as exemplary ambassadors for Kenya by demonstrating diligence, integrity, and respect for the laws of their host country as they pursue their studies, careers, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Mudavadi warned that some individuals in the country are intent on inciting tensions between Kenya and its neighbours, which, if unchecked, could lead to resentment among citizens and potentially trigger xenophobia.

“We have seen cases of some people saying that we do not like the bad manners of some Kenyans, and we are concerned that it is not seen as the whole nation’s behaviour. The question is, should the country suffer because of a few ill-mannered individuals?” he asked.

He reiterated the importance of respecting the laws of host countries, noting that while the Kenyan Constitution of 2010 offers many rights, this is not universally applicable.

“Now that you are here in Morocco, do you think you can bring that noise you see in Nairobi? You will have yourself to blame if you import bad manners to your hosting country. Respect their laws and live in harmony with their nationals,” Mudavadi remarked