The government has announced plans to introduce orientation programs for Kenyans traveling abroad through visa lotteries, aiming to tackle the growing mental health challenges faced by citizens living overseas.
On Sunday, June 8, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs revealed that many young Kenyans who relocate through visa lotteries experience intense culture shock. Without proper support, they often struggle with psychological distress and identity issues.
The department stressed that these orientation sessions will be crucial in helping Kenyans adapt to new job markets, social systems, and community life more effectively, easing their transition abroad.
“A key concern raised was the increasing psychological distress among diaspora communities, especially young adults grappling with culture shock and identity issues,,” the department said.
This announcement followed a meeting in Minnesota, USA, between Irene Karari, Director of the Skills and Expertise Division at the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, and Bill Akuma, President of Uplifted Care Services. They discussed the challenges Kenyans face abroad and explored ways to improve diaspora welfare.
“The discussions focused on enhancing diaspora welfare by establishing comprehensive support systems overseas and effective reintegration frameworks for returnees,” the department explained.
Akuma called on the government to take the lead in providing additional resources to families already settled abroad, helping them overcome communication barriers and adjust to new environments.
According to Akuma, empowering Kenyans living abroad remains a priority, as the government seeks to unlock the vast potential of the country’s global professional diaspora.
“The meeting recognised the vast, untapped potential within Kenya’s global professional diaspora, noting that many trained doctors, counsellors, trainers, and other specialists are spread worldwide without coordinated engagement,” the State Department for Diaspora Affairs added.
Akuma urged the government to create detailed skills registries that would connect the expertise of Kenyans in the diaspora with the country’s development goals. He noted that tapping into this talent pool could unlock valuable human capital to benefit both those living abroad and those back home.
During the discussions, a groundbreaking idea surfaced to make Kenya the first African country to officially license the globally recognized Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program. This program, which has already trained over 8 million people in 29 countries, could be a game-changer for mental health awareness and support.
The proposal aims to introduce mental health training as part of pre-departure orientation for Kenyans moving overseas. It would also create jobs by employing certified MHFA instructors in every county, while laying the groundwork for a nationwide mental health support system.
𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐘𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐀
Ms. Irene Karari-@ikarari, Director, Skills & Expertise Division, held a meeting with Mr. Bill Akuma President and CEO of Uplifted Care… pic.twitter.com/Jc8WpJFgkn
— State Department for Diaspora Affairs | Kenya (@Diaspora_KE) June 8, 2025
