RE: TREAT DUAL CITIZENSHIP LIKE ANY OTHER BILL
November 24, 2009
Open Letter to
The Speaker, Kenya Parliament.
RE: TREAT DUAL CITIZENSHIP LIKE ANY OTHER BILL:
In 1980 the Union for the Kenya Civil Servants was invalidated through a presidential decree. In 1982 section 2A which transformed Kenya into a one Party state, was enacted. In 1986 the security of tenure of the office of the Attorney General, the Judges, the Public Service Commission, the office of the Controller and Attorney General was removed.
For many years before 1991 the Chiefs all over Kenya abused their powers through the chiefs act. They harassed and suppressed many Kenyans. In 1991, just after a few weeks debate in the Kenya Parliament, the chiefs act which paved way for the abuse of power, was removed. In the same year, the security of tenure of the four important offices in Kenya, was reinstated within a few days of debate by the Kenya legislatures. In the year 2002, it took the Kenya Parliament less than one week to debate and reinstate the Union for the Kenya Civil Servants.
The Kenyan community living abroad, started pleading with their Government back home for dual Citizenship many years ago. In 2001, at a meeting organized by the KCA [Kenya Community Abroad] in New Jersey, USA, dual citizenship was discussed at length. There has been very many forums in USA, in Europe and other places, where dual Citizenship has been discussed. When the issue landed in the hands of the Kenya legislatures, it was amalgamated with the Constitution drafting.
In the Standard newspaper of the 23rd of November 2009, the committee of experts were quoted to have said that the adoption of the already released draft constitution, will take 3 years.This means that the issue of dual citizenship will also last more three years. Kenyans living abroad sends to Kenya an average of Kshs 60 billion every year. This amount would double if dual citizenship was adopted in Kenya. Just like Section 2A, the Union of the Kenya Civil Servants, the Chiefs Act, the office of the Judges, the Attorney General, the Public Service Commission, the Controller and Auditor General which were discussed and resolved within a very short period of time, the dual citizenship bill should be discussed and resolved within a period of not more than one Month. Many African Nations have dual citizenship. It is not a new thing in Africa. Why do the Kenya Legislature shy from passing the bill to legalize dual citizenship?Why should dual citizenship be amalgamated with the constitution drafting. The Kenya Members of Parliament should discuss it as a bill and pass it. On behalf of all Kenyans living abroad, I sincerely plead with the Kenya Members of Parliament to prioritize the dual citizenship, discuss it and pass it before August 2010.
Isaac Newton Kinity
Former Secretary General - Kenya Civil Servants Union
Chairman - Giacomo Foundation for Corruption and Poverty Eradication.a
Vice Chairman - Diaspora Movement of Kenya (DMK)
Open Letter to
The Speaker, Kenya Parliament.
RE: TREAT DUAL CITIZENSHIP LIKE ANY OTHER BILL:
In 1980 the Union for the Kenya Civil Servants was invalidated through a presidential decree. In 1982 section 2A which transformed Kenya into a one Party state, was enacted. In 1986 the security of tenure of the office of the Attorney General, the Judges, the Public Service Commission, the office of the Controller and Attorney General was removed.
For many years before 1991 the Chiefs all over Kenya abused their powers through the chiefs act. They harassed and suppressed many Kenyans. In 1991, just after a few weeks debate in the Kenya Parliament, the chiefs act which paved way for the abuse of power, was removed. In the same year, the security of tenure of the four important offices in Kenya, was reinstated within a few days of debate by the Kenya legislatures. In the year 2002, it took the Kenya Parliament less than one week to debate and reinstate the Union for the Kenya Civil Servants.
The Kenyan community living abroad, started pleading with their Government back home for dual Citizenship many years ago. In 2001, at a meeting organized by the KCA [Kenya Community Abroad] in New Jersey, USA, dual citizenship was discussed at length. There has been very many forums in USA, in Europe and other places, where dual Citizenship has been discussed. When the issue landed in the hands of the Kenya legislatures, it was amalgamated with the Constitution drafting.
In the Standard newspaper of the 23rd of November 2009, the committee of experts were quoted to have said that the adoption of the already released draft constitution, will take 3 years.This means that the issue of dual citizenship will also last more three years. Kenyans living abroad sends to Kenya an average of Kshs 60 billion every year. This amount would double if dual citizenship was adopted in Kenya. Just like Section 2A, the Union of the Kenya Civil Servants, the Chiefs Act, the office of the Judges, the Attorney General, the Public Service Commission, the Controller and Auditor General which were discussed and resolved within a very short period of time, the dual citizenship bill should be discussed and resolved within a period of not more than one Month. Many African Nations have dual citizenship. It is not a new thing in Africa. Why do the Kenya Legislature shy from passing the bill to legalize dual citizenship?Why should dual citizenship be amalgamated with the constitution drafting. The Kenya Members of Parliament should discuss it as a bill and pass it. On behalf of all Kenyans living abroad, I sincerely plead with the Kenya Members of Parliament to prioritize the dual citizenship, discuss it and pass it before August 2010.
Isaac Newton Kinity
Former Secretary General - Kenya Civil Servants Union
Chairman - Giacomo Foundation for Corruption and Poverty Eradication.a
Vice Chairman - Diaspora Movement of Kenya (DMK)
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