The central bank of Kenya announced this month that diaspora remittances in Kenya have surpassed the revenue from the country’s top export sectors, including coffee, tea, and horticulture.
Over US$4 billion was sent home by Kenyans abroad, highlighting just how powerful a country’s diaspora can be when properly engaged.
This milestone is not just a Kenyan story; it is a lesson for Africa, and Namibia has much to gain by following a similar path.
Globally, remittances to low- and middle-income countries reached US$669 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank.
Africa alone attracted more than US$54 billion, with Nigeria receiving US$20.5 billion, Egypt US$24 billion, and Kenya US$4.2 billion.
These inflows reduce poverty, support households, and add liquidity to local markets, but they are only part of the story.
Beyond traditional remittances, Africans are earning foreign income through remote work and international contracts while living in their home countries.
Software developers in Windhoek can work for firms in Berlin, designers at Ondangwa can earn from clients in New York, and nurses abroad can send money home – all of which function as part of a broader diaspora economy.
Namibia has barely tapped into these opportunities.
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL
Kenya’s recent milestone is an example of what is possible when a country actively engages its diaspora.
The combination of traditional remittances and remote-work earnings has made diaspora contributions the single largest source of foreign exchange for Kenya, ahead of its tea, coffee, and horticulture exports.
Kenya has invested in formal diaspora engagement policies, digital transfer systems, and investment avenues that allow citizens abroad to contribute directly to national development.
Namibia can learn from Kenya’s model and tailor its own framework to harness the full potential of its citizens, both at home and abroad.
Namibia currently receives an average of US$150 – 200 million annually in remittances, significantly below its potential.
Thousands of Namibians live across Europe, the Gulf, South Africa, the United States, and Australia.
They send money home to support families, pay school fees, build homes, and invest in small businesses, yet much of it goes unrecorded because informal channels dominate.
By creating structured, investor-friendly pathways, Namibia could double or even triple these inflows within a few years.
POSITIONING
The rise of remote work presents an additional opportunity. In 2024 alone, Africans working remotely for international companies earned an estimated US$45 billion. Namibia is well-positioned to benefit, with political stability, a strong services sector, good internet penetration, and English as an official language.
Thousands of young Namibians could earn in dollars, euros, and pounds without leaving the country, generating foreign currency, building digital skills, and expanding tax revenue.
Countries like Rwanda, Kenya, and Mauritius are already positioning themselves as remote-work hubs, and Namibia should seize this moment as well.
The government can accelerate this shift by providing incentives for global companies to hire Namibians remotely, establishing national digital skills programmes, creating diaspora investment bonds, connecting Namibians abroad through a global talent network, and partnering with technology platforms to export Namibian talent.
STRATEGIC SHIFT
To fully harness the trillion-dollar diaspora economy, Namibia must shift its mindset. The diaspora is not only a social community but also a key economic constituency. The skills, income, networks, and investments of Namibians abroad can become a powerful pillar of national development.
The global labour market has changed forever. Talent no longer needs to migrate; only the money does. Namibia has the governance strength, human capital, and stability to seize this opportunity. The time to act is now.
- Elvis Mboya is president of the Namibia-Kenya Chamber of Commerce and a journalist.
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