Kenyans invited to give views on citizenship
Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang'. Kenyans have until the end of April to give their views on citizenship and immigration laws to a government task force March 16, 2011. FILE
Kenyans have until the end of April to give their views on citizenship and immigration laws to a government task force.
The task force set up in December last year wants Kenyans to submit written views or memoranda on a wide range of issues relating to chapter 3 of the new constitution which deals with citizenship and immigration by April 30.
In an advertisement placed in local dailies Wednesday, the task force’s chairman Matemu Mumo invites all Kenyans, including those in the Diaspora to forward their views on issues such as citizenship, the definition of a citizen, proof of citizenship, dual citizenship and the rights, obligations and duties of a Kenyan citizen.
The task force also want to hear Kenyans’ views on issues such as marriage and citizenship, the status of a refugee in the new dispensation, the question of statelessness and how the law can be used to cure it as well as the functions, purposes and limitations of the national identity card.
Kenyans can also give their views on the best process of obtaining a birth certificate, which is a basic document for identification.
The task force has been forced to resort to written views and memoranda to gather the views of the widest Kenyan population possible due to limited time to accomplish its mandate.
Under the new constitution, parliament has up to August 27 this year to come up with laws on citizenship.
Besides gathering views from as many Kenyans as possible on citizenship and immigration laws, the task force is also tasked with undertaking consultations with the public and other stakeholders with a view to obtaining consensus for proposals to be made to existing laws relating to immigration and citizenship or formulating new laws for the full implementation of Chapter 3 of the new constitution.
The chapter in question covers issues such as the entitlements of citizens, the retention and acquisition of citizenship, citizenship by birth or by registration, dual citizenship, revocation of citizenship and legislation on citizenship.
