Fifteen non-Kenyans have accused officials at the Immigration department of unfairly rejecting their applications for citizenship.
They petitioned Parliament yesterday to compel the department to issue them citizenship.
Nominated MP Sunjeev Birdi presented the petition and said the department has violated the applicants’ rights to equality and freedom from discrimination.
The constitution allows non-Kenyans who have lived in the country for a continuous period of seven years to apply for citizenship.
“The petitioners ask the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security to recommend that relevant government agencies investigate to establish why there is a backlog at the Immigration department,” Birdi said.
She said the applicants are in limbo, despite making several applications. Birdi said most of them have been forced to apply for work permits.
“There have been allegations of high-level corruption at the Immigration department. The applicants are helpless,” she said.
Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa supported the petition and urged the Immigration department to be transparent, but added that applicants should be vetted to avoid issuing citizenship to criminals.
“There has been a problem in issuing citizenship to eligible people. I have a friend who has lived in this country for more than 15 years. He has applied for citizenship but in vain,” Wamalwa said.