Two dates decide whether this is simple or not. Kenya’s 2010 Constitution permits dual citizenship, but people born before 27 August 1987 who acquired another citizenship before 27 August 2010 are treated as having lost Kenyan citizenship, and must formally regain it under article 14(5) before they can hold a Kenyan passport again.
Quick facts
The sequencing is explicit and strict: those required to regain citizenship must wait for that process to be completed before applying for a passport. Starting both at once does not work.
Where you stand
| Your situation | Position | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Acquired another nationality after 27 Aug 2010 | Kenyan citizenship retained | Declare it when renewing |
| Born before 27 Aug 1987, other nationality before 27 Aug 2010 | Must regain citizenship | File under article 14(5) first |
| Child born in the U.S. to a Kenyan parent | Kenyan by descent | Register and document |
| Renewing a passport as a dual national | Declaration required | Before the renewal, not after |
Anyone in the second row should start there rather than at the passport counter, because the application will simply not proceed without proof that citizenship has been regained.
How to apply
- Work out which side of both dates you fall on.
- If you must regain citizenship, file that application through the mission covering your area.
- Gather evidence of your original Kenyan citizenship and of the foreign naturalisation.
- Wait for the regaining process to complete.
- Declare the other nationality when you apply for the passport.
- Register children born in the United States so their position is documented.
Required documents
- Kenyan birth certificate.
- Old Kenyan passport or national identity card.
- Foreign naturalisation certificate and passport.
- Evidence of parentage where the claim is by descent.
- Marriage certificate where a name changed.
- Proof of address in the United States.
Where to apply
At the embassy or high commission covering your area, which processes these files for the authorities in Kenya.
Additional notes
Check both dates carefully
People routinely assume the 2010 Constitution fixed everything retrospectively. For this group it did not: it gave them a route back, which has to be used.
Declaring is mandatory
The declaration of another nationality is a requirement of renewal, not a courtesy.
Children born here
They are U.S. citizens by birth and Kenyan through a parent. Document the Kenyan side early.
Allow real time
Regaining citizenship and then obtaining a passport is a sequence of months, not weeks.