Kenya country’s government grants citizenship when specific legal requirements are met. Citizenship can be seen as a political status because it indicates how the country recognizes you as a citizen.
How To Get Kenyan Citizenship By Marriage
Section 11 of Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act (KCIA) provides that a person married to a Kenyan citizen for more than 7 years and is a resident is entitled to apply for citizenship if:
i. The marriage was solemnised under Kenyan law/legal system recognised in Kenya;
ii. The applicant is not a prohibited immigrant under section 33(1) of KCIA;
i. The applicant has not been convicted of an offence punishable by 3 or more years in prison.
iii. The marriage was not entered into for the purposes of acquiring citizenship; and
iv. The marriage is still subsisting at the time of application.
Section 12 provides that foreign widows and widowers of Kenyan citizens may apply for citizenship at least 7 years after the date of marriage. This claim to citizenship is forfeited if the applicant marries a non-citizen before the lapse of 7 years.
How to Gain Citizenship by registration
(1) A person who has been married to a citizen for a period of at least seven years is entitled on application to be registered as a citizen.
(2) A person who has been lawfully resident in Kenya for a continuous period of at least seven years, and who satisfies the conditions prescribed by an Act of Parliament, may apply to be registered as a citizen.
(3) A child who is not a citizen, but is adopted by a citizen, is entitled on application to be registered as a citizen.
(4) Parliament shall enact legislation establishing conditions on which citizenship may be granted to individuals who are citizens of other countries.
(5) This Article applies to a person as from the effective date, but any requirements that must be satisfied before the person is entitled to be registered as a citizen shall be regarded as having been satisfied irrespective of whether the person satisfied them before or after the effective date, or partially before, and partially after, the effective date.