CERD Concluding Observations: Kenya, 2017

Published: 8/Jun/2017
Source: UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

CERD/C/KEN/CO/5-7

Stateless persons

27.The Committee notes with interest the efforts made by the State party to register stateless individuals. However, the Committee is concerned at reports that some ethnic groups, including the Nubians, individuals of Somali descent and groups living near the country’s borders, face challenges and lengthy vetting procedures in obtaining identity documents (arts. 1, 2 and 5).

28. In accordance with its general recommendation No. 30 (2004) on discrimination against non-citizens, the Committee urges the State party to stop discriminatory practices and accelerate its efforts to address statelessness, including through standardized registration procedures and issuance of official identification documents. The Committee also urges the State party to consider awarding Kenyan citizenship to all Nubians who were residing in Kenya on the date of Kenyan independence and their descendants.

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Themes: Acquisition of nationality, International standards, Discrimination, Ethnic/Racial/Religious, Statelessness
Regions: Kenya
Year: 2017