VERA BWIRE: Study and working abroad is good for Kenyans and Kenya

Many surveys over the years reveal that nearly half of Kenyan students, young and middle-aged, aspire to study abroad and many don’t plan to return but pursue work and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Their top considerations include scholarships, low-financing options and work opportunities at favoured destinations, such as the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Europe.

This ambition is hardly surprising. Kenya’s youth, who comprise more than 65 per cent of the population, according to the last census, are increasingly global in outlook and connected to opportunities across borders through digital platforms and networks. These linkages include returnees or friends who encourage them to pursue opportunities abroad.

Domestic job prospects are limited, higher education space is underfunded, upper middle-class income has increased so there’s more disposable income from parents and there’s more youthful zest for adventure outside their comfort zone. Thus, studying abroad helps fulfil this ambitious dream for freedom, security, exposure and career growth.

Scholarships are pivotal in opening these doors. Opportunities such as those offered by European countries, among others by bilateral partners from other continents, provide students with access to world-class institutions. Their programmes often cover tuition, living costs, and in some cases, even stipends, making these scholarships quite attractive but also competitive for the already-constrained youth.

Scholarships not only ease the financial burden of education but also open doors to global networks, skills and opportunities that many students could otherwise never access.

We need to accept that we are a highly globalised society, and working for other countries is absolutely okay for the sake of exchange of ideas and skills. The question that always pops up is the challenge of brain drain and how young Kenyans who leave and do not return could benefit their own country with much-needed skills in health, technology and research.

This issue is quite simple to tackle due to the huge youth demographic dividend we already have in Kenya and Africa; we can afford to let our young people go abroad and stay if they want.

Secondly, the government of Kenya has acknowledged this situation by engaging the diaspora as a critical pillar of development. But more needs to be done in striking that balance between taking advantage of overseas opportunities and attracting well-trained capable Kenyans back to the country, or even encouraging them to also contribute to the development of their host countries.

Many Kenyans who study abroad cite missing their motherland mostly for the weather, the food and the comfort of family, while they enjoy extensive opportunities for growth in their host nations, the different cultures and modern infrastructure and amenities.

However, how can the Kenyan government convince our very own patriotic Kenyans, who wear the Kenyan brand proudly and boast of our athletes on the global stage, to seek benefits at home? They need good domestic policies, a good work environment, ease of opening business, formal job opportunities and good salaries.

Might I be too ambitious in this? Probably not.

It is very possible to rejuvenate a country, and President Kagame of Rwanda and Prime Minister Abiy Mohamed of Ethiopia have proved this. History shows it can be done. Both leaders have demonstrated that visionary leadership, sound policy reforms and a bold commitment to national renewal can reverse a downward trajectory.

Rwanda rebuilt itself from near-total collapse to a model of order, security and digital innovation, while Ethiopia recently has made significant investments in infrastructure and industry to expand its economic base. It takes consistent political will, institutional discipline and a clear sense of national purpose.

The real task for Kenya is to create a vibrant domestic environment where skills gained abroad can be reinvested locally. This requires policy reforms, stronger industries and better linkages between diaspora networks and national priorities.

At the same time, there is nothing wrong with encouraging Kenyans to take up scholarships, self-financing study options or jobs abroad. We Kenyans are very lucky to have scholarships and study-abroad partners scouting for possible brilliant talents, and our government needs to work with these partners to ensure both parties benefit from the people-to-people exchange opportunities.