Kenyans who were forced to denounce their citizenship after moving to other countries before the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution can now apply for dual citizenship.
Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the government is fast-tracking application for dual citizenship for the Kenyans in diaspora through a new policy designed to facilitate Kenyans’ use of constitutional provisions acknowledging dual nationality.
“Our Constitution provides that if you travelled outside the country before 2010 and obtained citizenship of other countries, you now have an opportunity of dual citizenship. Some of them went and got citizenship as part of migration in other countries, in Europe, in America, in Asia,” said Bitok.
Regaining Kenyan citizenship is also expected to encourage Kenyans who migrated abroad and acquired other nationalities to invest more in their country of birth.
“We are now fast-tracking dual citizenship applications so that everybody who has left Kenya and have lost Kenyan citizenship because of the old Constitution can come back to Kenya to invest in our country,” said Bitok.
The PS noted the move to have Kenyans reclaim their identity will contribute to economic development of the country while strengthening connections between Kenyans abroad and their homeland.
The PS was speaking at the COMESA grounds in Nairobi when he flagged off this year’s International Migrants Day walk. The event, organised by the National Coordination Mechanisms on Migration and the International Office on Migration, celebrated the benefits of migration and cross-border movement.
He said the government was keen on promoting the migration of Kenyans seeking job opportunities abroad while also attracting unique expertise and investments to the country.
It is estimated that around three million Kenyans are in Diaspora, with a significant percentage enjoying dual citizenship status.
Many, however, abandoned Kenyan citizenship as a precondition for qualifying for other nationalities.
Section 16 of the Constitution provides for dual nationality. Kenyans wishing to reclaim citizenship must submit their applications online through e-Citizen and the Directorate of Immigration website.
Anthony Ngororano, who represented UN Resident Coordinator to Kenya Stephen Jackson, emphasized the economic contribution of migrants, highlighting the importance of regularising safe migration and establishing safe pathways.
“Looking at 2023 alone, remittance flows to Kenya reached around 4.2 billion US dollars (Sh542.85 billion) accounting for about 4 per cent of the country’s GDP, which is highly significant,” said Ngororano.
