Francine, Kenya. © Equal Rights Trust FrancineΦ Prior to Kenya’s 2010 Constitutional reform, Kenyan women lacked the right to pass their nationality to their children on an equal basis with men. Francine is the daughter of a Kenyan mother, Caroline, and a Ghanaian father. When the children were young, Caroline tried to get passports for them, but the authorities said they could not give her children passports because her husband is not Kenyan. Francine also tried twice to obtain her ID document: “[Prior to the 2010 Constitution] the authorities told me, you are not even Kenyan. Your dad is not Kenyan. At the time I was in college and was supposed to sit for my exams, but you are not allowed to do the exams if you don’t have the ID because you’re not Kenyan.” – Francine 18 In 2010, Kenya established a new Constitution that upholds the equal ability of citizens to pass their nationality to their children and spouses, regardless of gender. “After the reforms – my mom is Kenyan – so [the authorities] didn’t ask about my dad…They knew that my dad was not Kenyan, but they didn’t care. I just got the ID.” – Francine “How would you feel as a grandfather if your grandchildren did not share your nationality simply because your daughter married a non-Kenyan?” – Patricia Nyaundi, Commission Secretary, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights G E N D E R D I S C R I M I N AT I O N A N D C H I L D H O O D S TAT E L E S S N E S S