Kenyan-American Mwende Mwinzi Accuses MPs of Discriminating Against Her

Kenyan-American Mwende Mwinzi Accuses MPs of Discriminating Against Her

President Kenyatta’s nominee for Kenyan High Commissioner to South Korea Mwende Mwinzi claims that she is being discriminated against by Kenyan MPs.

Speaking during an interview with The Sunday Standard, Mwende, a Kenyan-American, said MPs were taking advantage of the fact that she was born in the US to deny her the chance to serve Kenya.

MPs have insisted that Mwende must renounce her American citizenship before taking up the ambassadorial position. MPs cite section 31(1) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, which bars persons with dual citizenship from holding State offices unless they renounce one.

However, Mwende said MPs misinterpreted the law on dual citizenship, adding that she is being punished for the choices made by her parents.

“This is not about me, although it does affect me. This is about the many Kenyans who ought to be mainstreamed into Kenya’s development and leadership. It cannot be that for all that we do for our country, and all that it does for us, we suddenly become strangers in times like these,” Mwende told The Standard.

Last week, Mwende filed a case at the high court seeking to block MPs’ move to force her to relinquish her US citizenship before assuming the role. In court documents, she argues that the move amounts to a violation of her constitutional rights.

“My US citizenship was acquired by birth and as such, my citizenship or the process of opting in was a consequence of circumstances out of my control,” Mwinzi argues in an affidavit.

“I did not participate in the decision to be born in the US and I cannot “opt-out” of that decision. Article 78(3) (b) would only be applicable to people who opted in by applying for citizenship and renunciation would be the process of ‘opting out’,” she adds.

Mwende listed Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma and Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki as respondents. 

During the Sunday interview, Mwende displayed her Kenyan national ID card, birth certificate and Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) badge of honor.
 
She was born in Milwaukee, US, of Kenyan father Maluki Mwinzi and American mother Mary Christine Geil.
 

Comments

Dr. Isaac New… (not verified)     Sun, 09/22/2019 @ 10:04am

Mwende Mwinzi should be allowed to serve Kenya. Nothing should but be put on her way to stop her from serving the Nation. If in the past no one came on her way to stop her from helping the Nation as a private Citizen, why come in her way now after she has been appointed to serve the Nation in an official capacity? She earned her medal a number of years ago because of helping Kenyans. The Kenyan MPs should have come out earlier to stop her from engaging in the Kenyan affairs at the time. If they never came out then, they should not come out now. The Kenyan MPs should should be comfortable with the Kenyans from the Diaspora who serve Kenya in their voluntary and in their official capacities without drawing lines, not only in their voluntary capacity as it appears today.
Isaac Newton Kinity.

pekemo (not verified)     Sun, 09/22/2019 @ 11:16am

The problem of a sleeping president. why not just revoke this appointment. This girl was born and raised in a foreign country, and is most likely a US spy agent. Is the president under duress to appoint a foreign agent as ambasador of Kenya? Save us this nonesense and unnecessary embarrasment.

Mundumugo (not verified)     Mon, 09/23/2019 @ 08:39pm

In reply to by pekemo (not verified)

Not to poke a hole in your half baked theory but Kenyans are famously greedy and corruptible. With a requested total intelligence budget of over $80 billion, don't you think the US has already bought or bribed any spies it needs or wants. In all probability the entire cabinet could already be on someones payroll. I find it unlikely the US needs Mwinzi as a spy.

Settled Nomad (not verified)     Sun, 09/22/2019 @ 04:44pm

I don't think that you can accept a job, offered by someone else, and then refuse to follow the rules. Refusing to follow the rules, as presented, is essentially a rejection of the job offer. Mwende Mwinzi cannot have it both ways. If she does not want to follow the rules, the appointing Authority should revoke the Appointment. He should not even wait for the Court case to proceed, because it challenges his power to pick whoever he wants, and that everyone in Kenya is subject to the Constitution.

mkenya halisi (not verified)     Sun, 09/22/2019 @ 07:10pm

Sheria ifuatwe.I said it here that the most foolish n idiots pples r the educated ones.She understands our law so why waste the time coz the law is very clear!Wakenya wenzangu wazungu wa diasporas can u see how this american is fighting to b in kenya juu ananjua kenya is the best than states while many of u talk shit about jamhuri??But i will still say if she desperately want the job she should quit ndio hio kazi ipewe another kenyan.

DANIEL KOMEN (not verified)     Sun, 09/22/2019 @ 09:13pm

MPigs are pissed since she won't be as corrupt as they are. NONSENSE. @MKENYAHALISI, saying Kenya is corrupt isn't "talking shit" it's the truth. Kenya is a foul place where only corruption thrives. FACT

Christopher (not verified)     Mon, 09/23/2019 @ 07:39pm

MWENDE MWINZI should cool her heels. She thought that this would be an easy jig since it has the President all over it like corn on Múkimo, but no! Uhuru Kenyatta does not own Kenya, his words or appointments are not final. He is just a public servant who should work in the best interests of the people. People speaking out for her are most likely tied to the same kind of corruption she is perpetuating here or are diasporans who want to resist the government's directive of having dual citizens barred from holding key positions in government for the sake of their children and/or themselves who are US Citizens - which is a stretch. Luckily the law cannot be bent to suit the wishes of a few selfish people. This position needs a seasoned foreign service official. Long gone are the days when things were done chap chap after an afternoon tea, a handshake, a wink or whatever else people exchange for corrupt deals. Who knows? People are bolder and more informed. Wherever she's getting her impetus only she and the other party knows. Wakenya wamekataa Kabisa!

James Methu (not verified)     Fri, 09/27/2019 @ 09:11pm

The stupidity of Kenya politicians never ends. Don't make up stupid laws for corrupt politicians that are designed to discriminate against dual Kenya citizens who want to serve their mother land of Kenya. The country does not belong to corrupt criminal politicians

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