This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
On November 6, 2019, Kenya's investment promotion agency, KenInvest, announced plans to grant automatic citizenship to high net worth investors who create jobs and boost exports.
Under the proposal, investors whose enterprises have a significant impact on job creation and exports will be allowed to apply for citizenship without meeting the usual seven-year residency requirement.
KenInvest managing director, Moses Ikiara, said the agency had held positive discussions with Interior Secretary Fred Matiang'i to develop a framework for vetting investors and preventing abuse.
"If somebody has created impact and you can see the jobs created why don't we extend an incentive to them and say we invite to be our citizen in three, two years," Dr Ikiara said.
The proposal is part of Kenya's first-ever investment policy, unveiled on November 6, 2019, which aims to guide the attraction, facilitation, retention, monitoring, and evaluation of private investments at national and county levels.
