Uhuru’s government steps back as 30,000 Kenyans in US are set to be deported by Trump

Martin Oduor

November 15, 2016 12:05 PM

President Uhuru’s government has encouraged Kenyan illegal immigrants to return back home as US president-elect Donald Trump vows to deport 3 million immigrants.

Donald Trump reiterated that his government would deport 3 million illegal immigrants in recent interview after he was elected president.

Also Read: Lupita Nyongo spared deportation even as Donald Trump asserts he will deport 3 million immigrants IMMEDIATELY

The International Organization for Migration estimated that 30,000 Kenyans were irregularly residing in the US alone in 2015.

Government spokesman, Eric Kiraithe, yesterday November 15 told Kenyans facing deportation in the US to book early flight home.

"We are glad that he (Trump) is targeting criminals. For the other Kenyans who might have reached there for whatever reason, we would urge them to stay within the legal system of the United States. You do not have to stay anywhere illegally. There are enough opportunities here. There are many Kenyans who are farmers and others are herders and they are making it. So if someone cannot be accommodated legally in another country, the earlier they take a flight and come back home, the better," Kiraithe was quoted by the Star.

The repercussion on the Kenyan economy would be far greater since Kenyans in North America alone remitted 85 billion shillings in the year up to June 2016, according to data from Central Bank of Kenya.

Diaspora remittances are the single largest contributor to foreign exchange ahead of major exports such as tea; now that remittances from the US are projected to dwindle, one can only imagine how the Kenyan economy will be hit.

Martin Oduor