As part of the Kenya Week celebrations at Expo 2025 Osaka, the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) hosted a vibrant Diaspora Networking Dinner that brought together Kenyans living in Japan for an evening of connection, conversation, and commitment to national development.
Held at the Osaka International Convention Center, the event drew Kenyan professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and community leaders residing in Japan. It served as a powerful kickoff to a week dedicated to promoting Kenyan trade, tourism, and culture on the global stage.
The dinner was graced by high-level dignitaries, including Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry; Mr. Moi Lemoshira, Kenya’s Ambassador to Japan; Ms. Floice Mukabana, CEO of KEPROBA and Commissioner General for Kenya at Expo 2025; and KEPROBA Board Chairman Mr. Jas Bedi.
In her address, Ms. Mukabana lauded the Kenyan diaspora for their pivotal role in shaping Kenya’s global identity and building economic bridges abroad.
“We are keen on areas of strategic collaboration like export linkages, especially for high-potential products such as flowers, tea, coffee, nuts, and horticultural produce. We also aim to position Kenya as a preferred destination for trade, tourism, and investment, using the diaspora as ambassadors to open new markets across Asia and beyond,” she said.
The evening featured presentations from key institutions, including Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), and Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), showcasing opportunities for investment and engagement back home.
A standout moment was the panel discussion titled “From Personal Networks to National Gains: Scaling Kenya’s Export Footprint in Japan.” Panelists explored themes such as labor mobility, cultural marketing, and the power of diaspora-driven trade facilitation.
CS Lee Kinyanjui highlighted the government’s commitment to labor and trade agreements that expand diaspora opportunities:
“Over 400,000 Kenyans are now working abroad under government-to-government labor agreements. This forum reminds us that diaspora cooperation is key to youth empowerment and investment growth across various value chains,” he stated.
The night ended on a high note with a call to action: for Kenyans abroad to become champions of Brand Kenya not just through personal success but through collective effort and purpose.
The Diaspora Networking Dinner not only celebrated Kenyan identity in Japan, but also laid a strong foundation for future collaborat