Quick Answer
You are a Kenyan citizen by birth if, on the day you were born, either your mother or your father was a Kenyan citizen — whether you were born inside or outside Kenya.
Key facts
- A parent who is a citizen makes you a citizen by birth.
- It applies whether you are born inside or outside Kenya.
- A young foundling is presumed a citizen by birth.
- Citizenship by birth cannot be revoked.
The rule
Under Article 14, you are a citizen by birth if, on the day of your birth, whether you were born in Kenya or abroad, either parent was a Kenyan citizen. Descent from a citizen parent is the key.
Foundlings
A child found in Kenya who is, or appears to be, under eight years old, and whose parents are not known, is presumed to be a citizen by birth — so that no child is left stateless.
It cannot be taken away
Citizenship by birth is the most secure status: it is not lost by marriage or its ending, and it cannot be revoked. This permanence is a deliberate protection in the Constitution.
Why this matters to you
For most Kenyans, this is how they belong — and it is a status no government can strip away. Knowing the rule matters especially for families with a parent abroad or children born outside Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a citizen by birth?
By having at least one Kenyan-citizen parent on the day you were born, wherever you were born.
Can citizenship by birth be revoked?
No — it cannot be revoked.
What about an abandoned child?
A child under eight found in Kenya, with unknown parents, is presumed a citizen by birth.
Sources & references
- Constitution of Kenya 2010, Articles 14 and 17 — klrc.go.ke