Kenyan ambassador hoping to forge links with Guernsey

Catherine Karemu Wahome has spent six days in the island on a visit, and at the weekend met some of her compatriots who now call the island home.

As well as Kenyan nationals, Ambassador Wahome met members of the business community at a special event organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society at La Fregate Hotel.

‘The feedback we have had is that all the employers have been impressed by the skill and especially the work ethic, and it is that work ethic that we are really famous for. We are very delighted that the Kenyans who have come to work here have represented the country well,’ she said.

‘Everyone said they are looking to engage more and more Kenyans in the future. It has been wonderful for them as they are learning new skills and to work in a multi-cultured environment.’

Ambassador Wahome said the feedback from her fellow Kenyans was that they had been made very welcome and she too had been struck by the hospitality of the Guernsey people.

‘The people I have met have been very helpful and very kind,’ she said.

‘Even the taxi driver from the airport, even in that short distance, told me lots of the facts about the island, the people, and its history.’

Although she did not have exact statistics, she said there was something like 500 Kenyans now working in the Bailiwick, in finance, hospitality, construction and the care sector.

She hoped this was just a start.

‘We intend to grow it intentionally – so far it has grown organically,’ she said. ‘One of the reasons we took advantage of the opportunity to speak to employers and to speak to Kenyans today, was to see how can we leverage the relationship in terms of getting opportunities for Kenyans here.’

And that growing relationship could lead to further opportunities.

‘We want to build on that good foundation. We should ask if there are opportunities for Kenyans to come and invest here, and are there opportunities for the people of Guernsey to invest in Kenya.’