Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sparked heated debate after urging Kenyans living abroad to reject a new Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) survey on diaspora remittances.
Speaking during a lively town hall meeting in California on Saturday, Gachagua told the diaspora community that the survey was “ill-intended” and “intrusive,” warning it could lead to extra taxes on money sent home.
Gachagua accused President William Ruto of pushing the CBK to carry out the exercise, questioning the real motive behind it.
“I do not know what is wrong with William Ruto. The CBK announced that it will be going to your homes to get the value of your remittances to determine how much money you send them. You guys have already paid tax; you are helping your kin because of failed systems,” Gachagua said.
He strongly advised Kenyans abroad to tell their families in Kenya not to cooperate with CBK officials collecting this information.
“If Ruto wants to know how much money you send home, he should come here and talk to you. Do not torment our parents and our people back at home,” he added.
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Gachagua went further, accusing the government of unfairly targeting hard-working Kenyans abroad to fix economic problems caused by poor leadership.
“They send money because things are not working in the government. That is being too intrusive. We do not want too much government in people’s lives,” he told the crowd, earning loud applause.
Just last week, CBK officially launched the Remittances Household Survey (RHS), a nationwide data collection exercise aimed at finding out how much Kenyan households receive from abroad, how the money is spent, and the challenges faced in sending it.
According to CBK, the information will help create better policies to promote remittance flows, make money transfers cheaper and faster, and address the needs of those receiving the funds. The survey will also involve gathering data from international money transfer companies.
The official numbers show just how important diaspora money is to Kenya’s economy. In 2024, Kenyans abroad sent home Ksh666.7 billion, a record high, making up 4% of the country’s GDP. This was an increase from Ksh586 billion in 2023.
But Gachagua insists that instead of using such data to tax people more, the government should be encouraging investment opportunities for the diaspora.
He promised that if his party wins the next election, they will introduce a diaspora infrastructure bond, allowing Kenyans abroad to invest their remittances in national development projects and earn returns.
“This is the kind of policy we need, one that rewards your hard work, not one that intimidates or taxes you further,” Gachagua said, his voice firm.
The remarks have intensified political tensions between Gachagua and Ruto, with some seeing it as another sign of a growing rift within Kenya Kwanza’s top leadership.
For many Kenyans in the diaspora, remittances are more than just money, they are lifelines for family members, covering school fees, medical bills, and daily living expenses. The idea of government officials knocking on their families’ doors to ask how much they receive has sparked fear and anger.
Critics of the survey argue that it could lead to overreach by the state, while supporters claim it’s necessary for better economic planning.
Whether the CBK will continue the exercise in the face of such strong opposition from the Deputy President remains to be seen.
One thing is certain, the debate over who controls diaspora money, and how it should be used, is far from over.
