Citizenship
Ways of becoming a Kenyan Citizen
A citizen is a person who belongs to a particular country.
Citizenship is the state of being a member of a given country.
In Kenya, citizens are issued with identity cards to show that they are Kenyans.
A person can become a Kenyan citizen in two ways.
By Birth
A child born of Kenyan parents becomes a Kenyan Citizen. The child is registered and given a birth certificate. At the age of 18 he or she can use the birth certificate to get an identity card.
If the child is born in Kenya by parents who are foreigners, the child has the option of becoming a Kenyan citizen or not.
By registration
A person born outside Kenya who has attained the age of 21 years can apply to be registered as a Kenyan citizen.
He or she must fulfil the following conditions.
He or she must have been living in Kenya for atleast seven years
One of his or her parents must be a Kenyancitizen
He or she must have knowledge of Kiswahili orEnglish.
He or she must be of good character and make agood citizen.
Requirements for Dual Citizenship
Dual citizenship is the state whereby a person is a citizen of more than one country under the laws of those countries.
A Kenyan citizen by birth does not lose Kenyan citizenship by acquiring citizenship of another country, as long as he or she can prove that one or both parents were Kenyan citizens at their time of birth.
Someone who qualifies for dual citizenship is required to be of good conduct, law abiding and should show interest in becoming a dual citizen
He or she should also present the following documents:
Two passport photographs
Copy of birth certificate
Copy of Kenyan passport
Copy of Kenyan identity card
Copy of the other country’s passport
Copy of the other country’s certificate of citizenship
Copy of police clearance certificate.
Ways in which one May lose Kenyan Citizenship
Kenyans who obtain citizenship of another country are required to disclose their other citizenship within three months of becoming a dual citizen. Failure to do so is an offence.
If a person acquired the citizenship by registration, the citizenship may
be lost if one:
Is discovered to have used false documents during registration.
Fails to renew citizenship when it expires.
Is convicted of an offence which has a penalty of at least seven years imprisonment within five years of registration
Is convicted of planning to overthrow the government (treason).
Is working with an enemy of Kenya to fight Kenya.
Willingly denounces Kenyan citizenship.
If a person acquired the citizenship by birth, the citizenship may be lost if:
The age of the person is discovered and reveals that the person was older than eight years when he or she was found on Kenyan soil.
The nationality or parentage of the person becomes known and reveals that he or she was a citizen of another country.
The person used false documents during registration.
Good citizenship
A good citizen does the following:
Obeys the laws of the country.
Is loyal and loves his or her country.
Defends his or her country.
Respects the authorities.
Takes part in community activities.
Pays tax to the government.
Takes care of the environment
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