- In a country there can also be foreigners who are refugees and expatriates.
- These are not citizen of that country.
- A Kenyan citizen is entitled to a national identity card or a passport.
- An identity card is issued to a person at the age of 18 years or more.
- A citizen cannot lose citizenship through dissolution of marriage.
Ways of Becoming a Citizen
(I) Citizenship by Birth
- A person becomes a Kenyan citizen by birth if that person is:- Born in Kenya by Kenyan parents.
- Born outside Kenya by Kenyan parents.
- Born in or outside Kenya and no one of the parents is a Kenyan citizen.
- Is a child and appears to be less than 8 years and whose nationality and parents are not known.
(II) Citizenship by Registration
- A person who is not a Kenyan citizen can apply to become a Kenyan citizen by registration if that person:- Has been married to a Kenyan citizen for a period of at least 7 years.
- Has been living in Kenya continuously for at least 7 years.
- Has one of the parents as a Kenyan.
- Is an adopted child by a Kenyan citizen.
Ways of losing citizenship
- A citizen by birth cannot lose his or her citizenship.- A citizen by registration can lose his or her citizenship if it is found out that the person:
- Acquired citizenship by forgery, fraud, cheating or presentation of false documents.
- Is given out secrets of the country to another country that is at war with Kenya.
- Supports or trades with an enemy of the country.
- Is jailed before 5 years or over from the time of registration as a citizen.
- Is jailed for 7 years or more.