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Kenya

Kibaki backs dual citizenship

NEW YORK, September 25 – President Mwai Kibaki has supported proposals that Kenyans in the diaspora enjoy dual citizenship under the new constitution.

Speaking at a New York hotel where he hosted a reception for Kenyans living in the US, President Kibaki noted that their entrepreneurial skills and hard work enabled them live and excel in many parts of the world.

President Kibaki urged all nationals who live and work abroad to make their contribution towards the constitution making process to guarantee their interests.

The President seized the opportunity to thank them for their contribution in rebuilding Kenya’s economy through financial remittances to support their families and through personal investment back home.

The Head of State encouraged the citizens and urged them to feel free being part of the highly globalised world and stated: “Do not feel lonely out here, back home fellow citizens appreciate what you do for them especially through the financial remittances.”

Commenting on the post election challenges that the country faced early in the year, the President told the gathering that only a few criminal elements took advantage to cause disorder adding that many Kenyans are law abiding citizens.

Reiterating the commitment of the Grand Coalition Government to protect the lives of its citizens and their property, the Head of State noted that peace and stability are the panacea of economic prosperity.

The President said that the disturbances experienced during that period must never recur and that national healing and reconciliation have been fast tracked to ensure that never again in the history of our country should a Kenyan rise against a fellow Kenyan.

He said: “As the world becomes more integrated we must encourage free movement of citizens and the right to own property in any part of the country.”

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The Head of State informed the gathering that his government had made good strides in resettling the internally displaced persons to support them rebuild their homes and resume their normal lives in building the nation.

During the occasion Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula urged the Kenyan nationals to complement the role of diplomatic staff of promoting the image of the country wherever they worked or lived.

The minister told them that the government was in the process of opening more missions to enable Kenyan nationals access consular services in many cities where a sizeable population of Kenyan citizens lived.

Mr Wetangula told them that the government also counted on them to act as the first line defence for Kenya’s image and interests internationally and asked them to seek help from the country’s mission whenever need arose.

Citizens who talked during the occasion commended President Kibaki’s Government for improved and efficient service delivery and unprecedented responsiveness to the needs of Kenyans living abroad.

Other speakers during the occasion included Education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri, National Planning and Vision 2030 Minister Wyclifffe Oparanya, Justice, Constitutional Affairs and National Cohesion Minister Martha Karua, Attorney General Amos Wako and Assistant Minister Foreign Affairs Richard Onyonka.

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