In a landmark event, the Kenya Embassy in Brasilia collaborated with the Kenya Embassy in Havana, Cuba to oversees the official launch of the Kenyans Living in Latin America (KELLA) in São Paulo, Brazil on 30th November 2024. The remarkable achievement was in line with Kenya’s foreign policy under the Diaspora Pillar, that seeks to utilize the vast and rich resource of the Kenyans abroad to promote Kenya’s interests within the international landscape while advocating for more opportunities for the diaspora to thrive.
The Mission led by H.E Ambassador Lemarron Kaanto, Head of Mission and Ambassador Peris Kariuki, Deputy Head of Mission spearheaded the convening of the special ceremony in São Paulo that brought together several Kenyans from different States of Brazil while others joined in the live webinar which was also attended by other Kenyans within the Latin America region including Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Peru and Chile.
H.E Ambassador Mwenda Karisa, Head of Mission at the Kenya Embassy in Cuba and Mr. Patrick Nzusi from the Embassy joined the meeting virtually and gave remarks on the importance of the occasion to celebrate the strong bonds that connect amongst Kenyans in Latin America as well as the witnessing the development of a stronger framework for collaboration, unity, and shared success within the diaspora community.
The leadership of the Kenyans Living in Latin America (KELLA) presented the objective and mandate that the organization seeks to achieve. Further, it was underscored that through the organization, the varied needs faced by the diaspora including consular services could be raised and channeled through the Missions and in turn the State Department of Diaspora Affairs.
It was highlighted that with majority of the Kenyan diaspora in the Latin America comprised of students at different tertiary levels, the clergy, sports men and women, entrepreneurs, professionals who all play a critical role in supporting families, investing in businesses, and fostering development back home.
The event included a session of question and answers with networking sessions amongst the guests.
To mark this occasion, a plaque was presented to the Kenyans Living in Latin America (KELLA) leadership by H.E Ambassador Lemarron Kaanto to officially commemorate the official launch of the organisation
