End discrimination on citizenship rights

For a long time the Immigration department has had problems with service delivery, leading to unnecessary delay in processing vital documents such as national identity cards and passports. Thankfully, there has been significant improvement in recent years, with shortened timelines within which one can access such documents. The department has also shown an improved appreciation of customer service, evident in their new office set up and decentralisation of services. However, there still remain significant challenges, evidenced from the attitude of some officers in appreciating changes contained in the new Constitution.

The Constitution addresses specific issues in regard to citizenship and immigration, giving prominence to recognition of women who for a long time had been treated like second rate citizens. Chapter Three of the Constitution addresses matters of entitlement to citizenship, as well as registration and acquisition of the same.

Unfortunately, some officers at the Immigration department are still held captive by ‘old attitudes’. Cases where officers have questioned whether a man can be conferred benefits of citizenship by being dependent on a Kenyan citizen, in this case their wife, clearly illustrates their ignorance of changes in the new law.

While the department is within its rights to do due diligence before issuing dependant’s passes to foreign nationals, reasons for turning down such an application should not be premised on one’s gender.