Kenya

Constitution of the Republic of Kenya 2010

Citizenship and Nationality

English

(1) Every person who was a citizen immediately before the effective date retains the same citizenship status as of that date.
(2) Citizenship may be acquired by birth or registration.
(3) Citizenship is not lost through marriage or the dissolution of marriage. (Art. 13)
Swahili

(1) Kila mtu ambaye alikuwa raia muda mfupi kabla ya tarehe ya utekelezaji anabaki na hadhi iyo hiyo ya uraia hadi kufikia tarehe hiyo.
(2) Uraia unaweza kupatikana kwa kuzaliwa au kujiandikisha.
(3) Uraia haupotei kwa njia ya ndoa au kuvunjika kwa ndoa. (Kifungu cha 13)

Citizenship and Nationality

English

(1) A person is a citizen by birth if on the day of the person’s birth, whether or not the person is born in Kenya, either the mother or father of the person is a citizen.
(2) Clause (1) applies equally to a person born before the effective date, whether or not the person was born in Kenya, if either the mother or father of the person is or was a citizen.
(3) Parliament may enact legislation limiting the effect of clauses (1) and (2) on the descendents of Kenyan citizens who are born outside Kenya.
(4) A child found in Kenya who is, or appears to be, less than eight years of age, and whose nationality and parents are not known, is presumed to be a citizen by birth.
(5) A person who is a Kenyan citizen by birth and who has ceased to be a Kenyan citizen because the person acquired citizenship of another country, is entitled on application to regain Kenyan citizenship. (Art. 14)
Swahili

(1) Mtu ni raia kwa kuzaliwa ikiwa siku ya kuzaliwa mtu huyo, iwe mtu huyo amezaliwa Kenya au la, mama au baba wa mtu huyo ni raia.
(2) Ibara ya (1) inatumika sawa kwa mtu aliyezaliwa kabla ya tarehe ya utekelezaji, iwe mtu huyo alizaliwa Kenya au la, ikiwa mama au baba wa mtu huyo ni raia au alikuwa raia.
(3) Bunge linaweza kutunga sheria ili kuweka mipaka ya taathira ya ibara ya (1) na ya (2) kwa vizazi vya raia wa Kenya ambao wamezaliwa nje ya Kenya.
(4) Mtoto aliyepatikana nchini Kenya ambaye, au anaonekana kuwa na umri chini ya miaka minane, na ambaye utaifa na wazazi hawajulikani, anachukuliwa kuwa ni raia kwa kuzaliwa.
(5) Mtu ambaye ni raia wa Kenya kwa kuzaliwa na ameacha kuwa raia wa Kenya kwa sababu mtu huyo alipata uraia wa nchi nyingine, ana haki ya kutuma maombi ya kupata uraia wa Kenya. (Kifungu cha 14)

Citizenship and Nationality

English

(1) A person who has been married to a citizen for a period of at least seven years is entitled on application to be registered as a citizen.
(2) A person who has been lawfully resident in Kenya for a continuous period of at least seven years, and who satisfies the conditions prescribed by an Act of Parliament, may apply to be registered as a citizen.
(3) A child who is not a citizen, but is adopted by a citizen, is entitled on application to be registered as a citizen.
(4) Parliament shall enact legislation establishing conditions on which citizenship may be granted to individuals who are citizens of other countries.
… (Art. 15)
Swahili

(1) Mtu ambaye ameolewa na raia kwa muda wa angalau miaka saba ana haki ya kutuma maombi na kuandikishwa kuwa raia.
(2) Mtu ambaye amekaa kihalali nchini Kenya kwa kipindi kisichozidi miaka saba mfululizo, na ambaye anakidhi masharti yaliyowekwa na Sheria ya Bunge, anaweza kutuma maombi ili kuandikishwa kama raia.
(3) Mtoto ambaye si raia, lakini ameasiliwa na raia, ana haki ya kutuma maombi ya kuandikishwa kama raia.
(4) Bunge litatunga sheria ya kuweka masharti ambayo kwayo uraia unaweza kutolewa kwa watu ambao ni raia wa nchi zingine.
… (Kifungu cha 15)

Citizenship and Nationality

English

A citizen by birth does not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country. (Art. 16)
Swahili

Raia kwa kuzaliwa haupotezi uraia kwa kupata uraia wa nchi nyingine. (Kifungu cha 16)

Citizenship and Nationality

English

...
(2) The citizenship of a person who was presumed to be a citizen by birth, as contemplated in Article 14(4), may be revoked if—
(a) the citizenship was acquired by fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact by any person;
(b) the nationality or parentage of the person becomes known, and reveals that the person was a citizen of another country; or
(c) the age of the person becomes known, and reveals that the person was older than eight years when found in Kenya. (Art. 17)
Swahili

...
(2) Uraia wa mtu ambaye alidhaniwa kuwa raia kwa kuzaliwa, kama ilivyobainishwa katika Kifungu cha 14 (4), unaweza kubatilishwa ikiwa—
(a) uraia huo ulipatikana kwa njia ya udanganyifu, utambulisho wa uongo au kuficha ukweli wowote halisi unaofanywa na yeyote
(b) utaifa au wazazi wa mtu huyo kujulikana, na kuonyesha ukweli kuwa mtu huyo alikuwa raia wa nchi nyingine; au
(c) umri wa mtu huyo kujulikana, na kuonyesha kuwa mtu huyo alikuwa na umri zaidi ya miaka minane alipokutwa Kenya. (Kifungu cha 17)

Citizenship and Nationality

English

Parliament shall enact legislation—
(a) prescribing procedures by which a person may become a citizen;
…
(e) prescribing procedures for revocation of citizenship;
…
(g) generally giving effect to the provisions of this Chapter.
… (Art. 18)
Swahili

Bunge litatunga sheria—
(a) ikielezea taratibu ambazo kwazo mtu anaweza kuwa raia;
…
(e) ikielezea taratibu za kufuta uraia;
…
(g) kwa ujumla itakayotekeleza vifungu vya Sura hii.
… (Kifungu cha 18)

Citizenship and Nationality

English

…
3. ... citizenship.
… (Fourth Schedule - Distribution of Functions between the National Government and the County Governments, Part 1 – National Government)
Swahili

…
3. ... uraia.
… (Kiambatisho cha Nne - Mgawanyo wa Majukumu baina ya Serikaili ya Kitaifa na Serikili za Kaunti, Sehemu ya 1 - Serikali ya Kitaifa)

Constitution of the Republic of Kenya 2010 (English). According to Art. 7: "… 2. The official languages of the Republic are Kiswahili and English. …"

Constitution of the Republic of Kenya 2010 (Swahili). UN Women in-house translation (2020).

Links to all sites last visited 14 February 2024

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According to Art. 260: “‘Affirmative action’ includes any measure designed to overcome or ameliorate an inequity or the systemic denial or infringement of a right or fundamental freedom;...”.

Chapter 4 on Bill of Rights.

According to Art. 260: “‘Affirmative action’ includes any measure designed to overcome or ameliorate an inequity or the systemic denial or infringement of a right or fundamental freedom;...”.

Chapter 4 on Bill of Rights.