Omtata now wants Duale and Kihika’s citizenship investigated

Activist Okiya Omtata now wants Aden Duale and Susan Kihika, among other lawmakers, investigated on claims that they hold dual citizenship.

In a letter dated October 1, Omtata wrote to the anti-graft agency, EACC, to investigate whether the majority leader in the National Assembly and the Nakuru senator respectively are holders of foreign IDs.

Omtata says following September 25, 2019 recommendations of a report to the Committee for Defence, which directed Foreign Affairs minister, Amb. Monica Juma, to run an audit on the nationalities of Kenya’s ambassadors to foreign nations, it would be prudent for the exercise to be extended to Kenyan elected leaders so as to root out those who are occupying the seats illegally due to dual citizenship.

“The Constitution expressly prohibits Members of Parliament from possessing dual nationality if it was acquired through naturalisation,” says Omtata in his letter addressed to the EACC chairperson Eliud Wabukhala.

“While it should cover all MPs, the audit should focus in particular on the following who are alleged to hold dual citizenships: Aden Duale (Somali), Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan (UK), Marsabit Woman Rep Sofia Adan (Somali and Ethiopia), Mandera South MP Haji Adan (Somali), Dadaab MP Mohammed Duale (Somali), Lagdera MP Mohammed Garane (Somali), Mwingi West lawmaker Charles Nguna (Greece) and Naivasha MP Jane Kihara (US),” says Omtata in his letter.

The activist’s list also has senators Ledama Olekina (Narok), who Omtata alleges that holds a US citizenship alongside his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika.

Omtata says should the EACC fail to conduct the investigations and give its findings in the next 15 days -- from October 1 -- he will go to court to seek orders compelling authorities to probe the claims.

“We hope that you will comply with our above request so that we do not have to move to the High Court of Kenya to seek coercive orders against the Government,” says the activist.

Omtata’s gripe stemmed from the protracted debate on the nationality of Mwende Mwinzi, who was, last week, given the greenlight to represent Kenya in Seoul, South Korea as its ambassador.

MPs, however, asked the National Assembly to rescind its decision to approve the nomination of Mwinzi as Kenya’s envoy to South Korea.

The Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations chaired by Kajiado South MP, Katoo ole Metito, arrived at the decision after Mwinzi failed to let go of her US citizenship before she takes over the appointment as recommended by the House on June 6, 2019.

“Having scrutinised the report of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations, the House rescinds its resolution, which approved the nomination of Ms Mwinzi for appointment as an ambassador to Seoul, South Korea,” the committee recommended in its report tabled in the House last Wednesday.

The House had approved the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee’s report recommending the appointment of all the envoy nominees but with a caveat that Mwinzi renounces her US citizenship in line with the Constitution.