The number of Kenyans relocating to the US grew at the fastest pace in a decade in 2022, signalling growing opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled labour in the world’s largest economy.
Data from the American liberal think-tank Migration Policy Institute (MPI) indicates that Kenyan immigrants to the US in 2022 stood at 168,915, a 9.6 percent jump from the 154,062 recorded in 2021 when global economies were recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The jump was the highest since the 15.9 percent recorded in 2011 when the number stood at 102,561 up from the 88,519 that had relocated in 2010.
The drift also comes as a result of a shrinking job market in the local economy, which has compelled labour providers to seek openings abroad.
Data from the US Embassy in Nairobi indicates that the Employment Third Preference (E3) visa category, which is allotted to professionals, skilled and unskilled workers, formed the bulk of issuances in 2022, followed by the Diversity Immigrant (DV) visa issued in line with the annual green card lottery programme.
The surge came despite the embassy suspending appointments for visa interviews for the better part of 2022 owing to high demand and the diversion of focus in favour of the Covid-related backlogs.
At the time, the embassy had indicated that the earliest available dates for visa appointments would be in June this year.
Last year, the US Department of State increased visa fees for some categories by between seven percent and 53 percent, citing the rising cost of processing the crucial travel document.
In the changes, which took effect on June 17 last year, business and tourist visas (categories B1/B2s), students (F) and exchange visitor visas (J) rose from $160 (Sh20,560 at current conversion rates) to $185 (Sh23,772), while visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q and R categories) jumped to $205 (Sh26,342) up from $190 (Sh24,415).
The relocation numbers are set to rise further following a freshly unveiled aggressive push by the Kenyan government to secure job postings in the diaspora as part of elaborate measures geared towards addressing bloated unemployment in the country.
President William Ruto has also touted the drive as one that will boost dollar inflows into the country to help ease inflationary shocks occasioned by expensive imports.
The US has over the years sustained its position as the largest source of remittances to Kenya, accounting for 49 percent of the total $397.3 million (Sh51.1 billion) inflows that were wired last April.
