Meet Bilha Njeri, a Netherlands based Kenyan whose heart and impact remain rooted back home. As the WIDU.africa- Kenya diaspora focal person in the Netherlands, Bilha connects Kenyan diaspora members with meaningful ways to support entrepreneurs back home.
She isn’t just part of the WIDU journey, she continues to champion it, helping more diaspora step forward to support micro and small businesses in Kenya.
“There’s so much a diaspora or a donor can do and WIDU is coming to help you,” Bilha says
Transforming Diaspora Support into Local Impact
As WIDU’s diaspora focal person in the Netherlands, Bilha has been instrumental in building awareness and trust within the Kenyan diaspora. Her efforts have led to the referral of five diaspora donors who have now supported 10 businesses back home. These ventures span sectors like retail, agribusiness, and tourism—each creating jobs, generating income, and strengthening local economies.
One of the standout businesses is MyKoolala, an online tourism startup that has received support through the WIDU platform. With the financial boost and business coaching services, they were able to buy essential equipment to improve services and stay competitive in Kenya’s tourism space. “ Through WIDU, I learnt a lot about business funding and the opportunities that are around me. In such an arrangement, the diasporas will have a great impact on their families back home without losing Money.” Share’s Kimani Muhia, founder of MyKoolala.
More Than Jobs: It’s About Building Power and Dignity
For Bilha, WIDU represents a shift in how diaspora engagement can work. Instead of sending money informally with little visibility or structure, diaspora members can now partner with local entrepreneurs in a transparent, empowering way. Every investment goes beyond economic gain; it’s about restoring dignity, opportunity, and participation.
“Through remittances, you're not just creating jobs—you are improving the economy and giving people social power and money.” She explains.
Through her work, she’s helping diaspora members see themselves as development actors—not just supporters from afar, but direct contributors to Kenya’s economic future.
Celebrating Diaspora Champions on IDFR
This year’s IDFR theme, “Remittances: Financing Development,” speaks directly to Bilha’s journey. By helping fellow diaspora move from informal remittances to structured business support, she’s part of a growing network that’s creating jobs, dignity, and growth across communities in Kenya.
Her work reflects what WIDU stands for: transforming financial support into meaningful, measurable change.
Find out more about Bilha in an interview on Youtube here