Rwandan envoy welcomes decision by President Kenyatta to naturalise people of Rwandan origin

Published: 14/Dec/2020
Source: The New Times (Kigali)

By James Karuhanga

Rwanda’s envoy in Kenya has told The New Times that the move by President Uhuru Kenyatta to grant Kenyan citizenship to people of Rwandan origin who moved to Kenya during the colonial era was an important gesture.

During the celebrations of Kenya’s independence held over the weekend, President Kenyatta announced that he had granted citizenship to 1,300 people of Rwanda origin who had lived in Kenya since the 1940s.

Dr Richard Masozera, Rwanda’s High Commission in Kenya, said these people had long lost links to Rwanda and were now facing various challenges because they were stateless.

Granting them citizenship now means they can enjoy life as any other Kenyan citizens with rights to education, bank loans, land rights, and others which they had been deprived of.

Read further: https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/rwandan-envoy-welcomes-decision-president-kenyatta-naturalise-people-rwandan-origin

Themes: Naturalisation and Marriage, Statelessness
Regions: Kenya, Rwanda
Year: 2020