STATELESSNESS AND CITIZENSHIP IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
Table of Contents
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... i
List of Boxes ................................................................................................................................ i
Methodology and acknowledgements...................................................................................... ii
A note on terminology: “nationality”, “citizenship” and “stateless person” ........................... iii
Acronyms .................................................................................................................................. iv
Key findings and recommendations ....................................................................... 1
1. Summary ........................................................................................................... 3
Overview of the report .............................................................................................................. 4
Key recommendations .............................................................................................................. 5
Steps already taken ................................................................................................................... 6
The role of the EAC .................................................................................................................... 6
2. Nationality under colonial rule and the transition to independence ................. 7
3. Nationality laws of EAC Partner States today .................................................... 9
The right to a nationality ........................................................................................................... 9
Nationality based on birth in the territory ................................................................................ 9
Children of stateless parents or who would otherwise be stateless .......................................................... 10
Foundlings or children of unknown parents ............................................................................................... 11
Nationality based on descent .................................................................................................. 12
Adopted children ..................................................................................................................... 13
Nationality based on marriage ................................................................................................ 14
Dual nationality ....................................................................................................................... 14
Naturalisation based on long-term residence......................................................................... 16
Naturalisation of refugees ......................................................................................................................... 17
Special temporary procedures for naturalisation in Kenya ........................................................................ 19
Loss and deprivation of nationality ......................................................................................... 20
Renunciation and reacquisition .............................................................................................. 21
Procedures............................................................................................................................... 22
Identification and protection of stateless persons ................................................................. 23
4. Nationality administration in practice ............................................................. 25
Birth registration ..................................................................................................................... 25
National identity cards ............................................................................................................ 28
Proof of nationality.................................................................................................................. 33
The right to a passport ............................................................................................................ 34
Access to naturalisation .......................................................................................................... 35
5. Groups at risk of statelessness ........................................................................ 38
Common categories across all countries ................................................................................ 38
Descendants of pre-independence migrants ............................................................................................. 38
Border populations .................................................................................................................................... 38
Vulnerable children .................................................................................................................................... 39
Refugees, former refugees and internally displaced persons .................................................................... 41
Long term migrants and their children ...................................................................................................... 42
UNHCR / September 2018