This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
On August 27, 2019, the National Assembly approved seven individuals nominated as ambassadors, paving the way for their formal appointment by President Uhuru Kenyatta. One of the nominees, Mwende Mwinzi, caught everyone's attention due to her dual citizenship.
Mwende Mwinzi, who is married to a Nigerian citizen, holds both Kenyan and American passports. Article 78 (2) of the Kenyan constitution states that a state officer shall not hold dual citizenship, and ambassadors are considered state officers.
Upon appointment, an individual must renounce their second citizenship before taking up the job. Mwende Mwinzi thus has to renounce her US citizenship after formal appointment so that she does not break the law.
Majority leader Aden Duale said Mwende Mwinzi should follow the dictates of the Leadership and Integrity Act, which requires her to choose between her US citizenship and the Kenyan job.
It is still left to know if she renounced one of her citizenship or not as she reports to Seoul in a few weeks.
On a separate note, Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma presided over the conclusion of the induction course for the cohort of Ambassadors appointed in July 2019, saying, 'I can proudly confirm the readiness of all 34 Ambassador and High Commissioner Designates to pursue, promote and protect Kenya's national interests across the world.'
