Diaspora Lobby Protests MPs’ Bid to Force Mwende Mwinzi to Renounce Her US Citizenship
Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) has protested MPs’ demand that Kenyan-American Mwende Mwinzi renounces her US citizenship in order to take an ambassadorial role in South Korea.
Last week, members of National Assembly Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee gave Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma 10 days to confirm whether Ms. Mwinzi had relinquished her US citizenship.
Following her vetting in June, the committee recommended that Ms. Mwinzi renounces her US citizenship before being deployed as Kenyan High Commission to Seoul, South Korea or decline the appointment. Mwinzi was nominated to the position by President Kenyatta.
The MPs cited section 31(1) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, which bars persons with dual citizenship from holding State offices unless they renounce one.
Appearing before the committee on Thursday, CS Juma said she will get in touch with Ms. Mwinzi to seek clarification on the matter.
“I will definitely get in touch with her and get the true position of the matter,” said CS Juma, adding that none of the ambassadors appointed by President Kenyatta have left the country.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi directed the committee to investigate whether it was true that Ms. Mwinzi had been deployed to South Korea without renouncing her US citizenship.
Muturi ordered a probe after Endebess MP Robert Pukose claimed that he had obtained reports that Ms. Mwinzi had already presented her credentials in South Korea for clearance.
KDA, a lobby group that represents Kenyans living abroad, accused MPs of engaging in illegality by forcing Mwinzi to renounce citizenship she did not choose.
“The ideal should have been for Parliament to seek an advisory opinion on the matter, or direct the Attorney-General to do so from the Supreme Court.”
"The legislation they are relying on is itself ultra vires (beyond powers) and unconstitutional, therefore offending,” KDA Global Chairperson Dr. Shem Ochuodho told Daily Nation.
“We urge the honorable members of Parliament to seize the opportunity to make these ‘forgotten Kenyans’ too to start feeling they belong."
Ochuodho claimed Kenyans in the diaspora have continued to be discriminated against despite sending in more money than Kenya’s annual foreign direct investment.
Mwinzi, who was born in the US, is the founder of Twili Foundation, a charitable organization running programs for needy and vulnerable kids in Kitui County.
She unsuccessfully contested for Mwingi West parliamentary seat in the last election.
Comments
Why would she accept an…
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Why would she accept an ambassador position when does not meet the minimum requirement?
The woman is a crook.
Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA…
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In reply to Why would she accept an… by Guest (not verified)
Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) may soon be in cahoots with some NASA fraudsters who pocketed lots of Diasporans' money while pretending to "Adopt a Polling Station"s in Kenya during the 2017 General Elections. After all they represent less than 5% of Diasporans; even lesser.
I stated here that this…
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I stated here that this educated fellas can b stupid.Can this diasporas stugees read the kenyan law clearly or even what the law says in america.Tuheshimu sheria wasee.Lets not act with stupidity.
Never renounce your US…
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Never renounce your US citizenship for political office so what happens if you are recalled or fired the next month.
The illegitimate self…
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The illegitimate self-serving Kenya group calling its “Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA)”have ones again floundered in their own sludge. Mwenda Mwinzi is a diasporan who deserves any post as any other qualified Kenyan, more so as a diasporian.
That said, we have lived and flourished in the Western world by respecting and obeying the law. We advocate decisive, concerted and consistent war against corruption in our Motherland. We therefore would be the last people to advocate anyone to presume that Diaspora would back them in their evil quest of blackmailing the Government to appoint Mwenda or anyone against the letter of our Constitution.
Under the Influence of one…
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Under the Influence of one Weingo fraudster and Money launder in the name of "Adopt a Polling Station" in Kenya, someone at Mwakilishi office has been BLOCKING my comments. This is Discrimination and not funny.
Mine too. My below the Belt…
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In reply to Under the Influence of one… by Anno (not verified)
Mine too. My below the Belt comments have been blocked (under the same Money laundering Weingo fat cat).
Very disappointed with the…
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Very disappointed with the KDA. Can this association focus on Diaspora, instead of personal issues. Since 2010, KDA has not done anything to remove the anti-diaspora sections from the 2010 constitution.
Who are these diaspora…
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Who are these diaspora representatives...have never heard of them.Anyway, Follow the Kenyan law as it is, Mwinzi can't purport to be Kenyan ambassador to Korea while holding another country's citizenship. Represent interest of the country of Kenya fully not halfway.
Is our diaspora house in…
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Is our diaspora house in order, no, have we had any election for office bearers no, are those in office legally there no,do they reside outside kenya in a true sense no,we are proxies of what ails kenya---over 70% of our mps are ex-diasporans----any legal mind in the room----please expound.
This is a classic case of …
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This is a classic case of "It's our turn to eat" mentality.
This war on diaspora must…
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This war on diaspora must stop. Diaspora is one of the leading contributors of foreign funds coming into Kenya.I don't know the KDA, but if it is fighting my battle so be it. The Diaspora has been conned by the M-pigs and the Kenyan government so many times that they are going to be allowed to vote during general elections. Everything is bureaucracy against diaspora. Let this Mwinzi war be an eye opener, and I PRAY that she wins for our our behalf!
What do you expect she's "in…
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What do you expect she's "in bed" with Jubilee. Ako na god-papa ama god-mama huko no wonder her bravery! She should be very ashamed of herself scrambling for a position like that when the law is clear and thinking that the whole diaspora is behind this kind of corruption and nepotism. THERE ARE SO MANY FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICIALS IN KENYA WHO HAVE DONE YEARS OF PREPARATION FOR THAT POSITION WHO ARE BEING DENIED BECAUSE OF HER. MWENDE MWINZI GO TO HELL! We know you can never renounce your US Citizenship! SO STOP PERPETUATING NEPOTISM AND CORRUPTION!
Why is she getting…
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Why is she getting preferential treatment. In the US if you join the military or get a job that requires any kind of clearance you are required to renounce prior citizenship(s) she was born and raised in a country where laws are followed to the Tee....she is taking advantage of the corrupt Kenyan govt. Clearly even Moi and Kibaki govt would have never allowed this. This Uhuruto govt is ridiculous and can hire any foreigner with Kenyan ancestry. What next chinese MCA's. She probably now has a Kenyan diplomatic passport while she's at it
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