Kenyan citizenship by ancestry, descent or investment: what the law allows

Steps

1. Check which route fits you. Kenyan citizenship comes only by birth, by registration, or (for a young child found in Kenya) by presumption.
2. Registration covers people such as spouses, widows and widowers of Kenyans, children of registered or adopting Kenyans, lawful residents, stateless persons and migrants.
3. If you want to invest or do business in Kenya, apply for a work permit instead, such as Class G for a specific trade or business.
4. If your parent is Kenyan but you hold another nationality that bars dual citizenship, or you were born before your parent became Kenyan, look at permanent residence (Category C).

Who this covers

• Citizen by birth: your mother or father was a Kenyan citizen on the day you were born, wherever you were born.
• Registration: a foreigner who has lived lawfully in Kenya for at least 7 continuous years can apply.
• Registration: a foreigner married to a Kenyan citizen for at least 7 years can apply.