Requirements for citizenship

Kenyan citizenship is conferred by the constitution and is acquired by;

•  Birth
•  Registration

CITIZENSHIP BY BIRTH

A person is a citizen by birth if at the date of his or her birth;

•  One of the parents is or was a citizen of Kenya.
•  This is regardless of where the person is or was born.

Section 30 of part 6 of the constitution provides how persons born before 12th December, 1963 became citizens by birth.

REGAINING OF KENYA CITIZENSHIP

A citizen by birth who acquired citizenship of another country, and renounced the Kenyan citizenship may apply to regain citizenship.

CITIZENSHIP BY REGISTRATION

The following persons are entitled/eligible for registration as citizens of Kenya

1.Spouses, widows and widowers of Kenya citizens

The applications under this category are made by persons who have been married to citizens of Kenya for a period of at least seven years.

2. Lawful residents

Applications under this category are made by persons who have been ordinarily resident in Kenya for a period of seven years immediately preceding the date of application and must have been so resident under authority of an entry permit or exemption.

3. Children and persons with disabilities

Applications under this category are made for the biological or legally adopted children of Kenyan citizens (a child means any human being under the age of eighteen years)

4. Stateless and migrant persons

Applications under this category are made by persons who voluntarily migrated to Kenya before 12th December,1963 and/or have continuously lived in Kenya.

5. Descendants of stateless and migrant persons

Applications under this section are made by persons who have attained the age of eighteen years and whose parents had voluntarily migrated to Kenya before 12th December, 1963 and or has continuously lived in Kenya.

Renunciation of Kenya citizenship

Declarations for renunciation are made by citizens of Kenya who wish to voluntarily renounce their Kenyan citizenship.

Disclosure of dual citizenship

A dual citizen is required to disclose her/his other citizenship within three months of becoming a dual citizen.

the theoretical problems and the real issues and to differentiate between the two.