Diaspora Affairs Engagement

PS NJOGU CHAMPIONS WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY DURING THE THIRD IRSK CONFERENCE IN NAIROBI

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Friday, October 3, 2025(NAIROBI) – The Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Ms. Roseline K. Njogu, CBS, delivered an address at the third International Relations Society of Kenya (IRSK) annual conference, framing the inclusion of women in diplomacy as an essential catalyst for Africa's growth and global integration.

PS Njogu added that true representation for women in diplomacy is about influence, not just numbers.

"Representation is more than numbers, it’s about influence," she asserted. "Women must actively shape agendas, influence decisions, and hold leadership space."

She outlined a multi-pronged approach for achieving this: ensuring women are at every negotiation table, mainstreaming gender perspectives into policies on peace, security, and trade, and building robust mentorship networks to amplify collective influence.

The conference, organized by IRSK in partnership with COMESA, the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), brought together government officials, diplomats, scholars, and regional stakeholders under the theme “Inspiring the Future Generation of African Women in Diplomacy.”

In the subsequent panel discussion, PS Njogu acknowledged the distinguished gathering, paying special tribute to her fellow panelists: Dr. Sally Kosgei, the first woman Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs; Hon. Lady Justice Effie Owuor; and Ms. Zainab Bangura, Director General of the UN Office in Nairobi.

In a first round panel discussion on career pathways, PS Njogu reflected on her experience building the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA) from the ground up. She detailed opportunities and challenges, and the complexity of serving a vast, diverse diaspora estimated at 4-5 million people across the globe.

She highlighted the transformative opportunities her team has seized including the successful launch of the Kenya Diaspora Policy 2024, the development of a Global Labour Market Strategy, and serving as lead negotiator for Bilateral Labour Agreements with countries like Germany and Austria.

She also highlighted concrete results in diaspora welfare, stating that the government has put up mechanism and continues to formulate measures to support the same seen through medical and crisis evacuations.

Economically, the PS reaffirmed the diaspora's pivotal role, noting that remittances remain Kenya’s leading source of foreign exchange earnings, with inflows amounting to USD 4.94 billion in 2024.

In the final session on preparing young women for global careers, the PS offered a comprehensive blueprint of critical skills. Beyond academic qualifications, she stressed the need for: masterful communication and diplomatic skills that reflect Kenya's values; high emotional intelligence for resilience and conflict resolution; strategic analytical thinking to anticipate global shifts; proven leadership and sharp negotiation skills as well as multilingual proficiency in languages like French, Arabic, and Spanish.

PS Njogu’s offered counsel to serving, upcoming and potential envoys to uphold national values with integrity, lead with resilience, and commit to continuous growth, build networks, seek mentorship, and above all, cultivate courage and self-belief.

She wrapped up the session with a direct message to young women in the audience: "Your voices matter, your contributions are valuable, and with perseverance and vision, you can and will shape the future of international relations at the highest levels."