Why Kenyans In The Diaspora Are upbeat With The New Laws

As history is made with the overwhelming passage of the new constitution, some of the key beneficiaries will be citizens living abroad.

Kenyans in the Diaspora are not only celebrating the passage of the new constitution for the country, but also the inclusion of dual citizenship and voting rights.

This is exciting for Kenyans abroad because it empowers them with the right to participate in a General Election.

Dual citizenship and voting rights was proposed and championed by a group of Kenyans in the Diaspora.

The Kenyan Community Abroad (KCA), an organisation based in Washington, DC, has branches in different countries worldwide.

3,000 signatures

It debated on the issue on their online forum for several days before sending two representatives to Bomas, where a constitution review hosted by the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) was going on.

John Maina, a KCA representative, flew from Washington, DC, armed with more than 3,000 signatures from Kenyans in the Diaspora petitioning their cause. Gichane Muraguri, who was at home, joined him at Bomas.

The two presented their proposal and testimony before the Technical Bill of Rights and Citizenship committee headed by Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire.

Recounting the experience, Mr Maina told The Standard in Boston Massachusetts: "The first day I was booed by hecklers who were not patient to hear my proposal. The second day I finished my testimony and answered a few questions to enlighten delegates and the media. On the third day, we visited CRCK Chairperson Yash Pal Ghai’s office at Bomas, and his secretary Patrick Lumumba. After discussions, they encouraged us to continue with our testimony."

As that was going on, some KCA members abroad bought two pages in The Standard and Nation newspapers and outlined what the Bill entailed and its advantages.

This civic education campaign helped inform the masses about dual citizenship, but made this issue become a common discussion topic in households and pubs.

On the fifth day, the Delegates of the Technical Committee on Bills of Rights and Citizenship took a vote, passed, and infused dual-citizenship and voting rights into the Bomas Constitution Review.

By Chris Wamalwa in Philadelphia, USA