The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2025
Status Timeline
Proposed
Active now
Public Review
Pending
Debate
Pending
Executive
Pending
Final
Pending
Removal of Citizenship Application Deadlines
The Bill deletes previous application deadlines, creating an open-ended timeframe for both stateless persons (under Section 15) and migrants (under Section 16) to register as Kenyan citizens.
Strict Integration and Character Criteria
To qualify for registration, a stateless person must meet several conditions:
- Must have habitually resided in Kenya since 12th December, 1963;
- Must be able to understand and communicate in Kiswahili, a local dialect, or alternative communication formats/technologies for persons with disabilities;
- Must have no criminal conviction resulting in imprisonment for three years or longer during their stay in Kenya; and
- Must demonstrate an understanding of the rights and duties of a Kenyan citizen.
New Mandatory Registry for Stateless Persons
The Bill introduces a new statutory duty under Section 15(2) requiring the Cabinet Secretary to establish and maintain an official register of all registered stateless persons living in Kenya.
Bill No.
No. 53 of 2025
Gazette No.
Supplement No. 199 of 2025
Sponsor
Owen Yaa Baya
Background
The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to address legal gaps affecting stateless populations and migrants who have lived in Kenya for decades. Under the current Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, Cap. 170, the opportunities for these groups to formalise their citizenship were bound by strict application windows. This Bill removes those statutory deadlines to offer an ongoing pathway to legal registration and citizenship.
Key Amendments
- Section 15 of Cap. 170: The Bill completely replaces Section 15 to lift the previous timeframe limits for stateless persons. It allows any individual without an enforceable claim to any recognized country's citizenship who has habitually resided in Kenya since 12th December, 1963, to apply for citizenship status.
- Section 16 of Cap. 170: The Bill amends Section 16 by deleting subsection (2), thereby eliminating the deadline for registration applications submitted by migrants.
New Obligations
- Registry Maintenance: The Cabinet Secretary is legally obligated to maintain an official and updated register of all registered stateless persons within Kenya.
- Applicant Requirements: Applicants seeking registration as stateless persons must fulfill specific language, character, and educational standards, including the ability to communicate in Kiswahili, a local dialect, or through technologies designed for persons with disabilities, and holding no prison sentences of three years or more.
Gazettement
The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (NA Bill No. 53 of 2025) was published in the Kenya Gazette (No. 199).
First Reading
The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (NA Bill No. 53 of 2025), sponsored by Hon. Owen Baya, MP, underwent its First Reading in the National Assembly.
First Reading
The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (NA Bill No. 53 of 2025), sponsored by Hon. Owen Baya, MP, underwent its First Reading in the National Assembly.