This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Published on September 17, 2019, a protest by the Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) has been sparked by MPs' demand that Kenyan-American Mwende Mwinzi renounce her US citizenship in order to take an ambassadorial role in South Korea.
Members of the National Assembly Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee have given Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma 10 days to confirm whether Ms. Mwinzi had relinquished her US citizenship.
Following her vetting in June, the committee recommended that Ms. Mwinzi renounce her US citizenship before being deployed as Kenyan High Commissioner to Seoul, South Korea or decline the appointment. Mwinzi was nominated to the position by President Kenyatta.
The MPs cited section 31(1) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, which bars persons with dual citizenship from holding State offices unless they renounce one.
Appearing before the committee, CS Juma said she would seek clarification from Ms. Mwinzi on the matter.
"I will definitely get in touch with her and get the true position of the matter," said CS Juma, adding that none of the ambassadors appointed by President Kenyatta had left the country.
However, KDA, a lobby group representing Kenyans living abroad, has accused MPs of engaging in illegality by forcing Mwinzi to renounce citizenship she did not choose.
"The ideal should have been for Parliament to seek an advisory opinion on the matter, or direct the Attorney-General to do so from the Supreme Court," said Dr. Shem Ochuodho, KDA Global Chairperson.
