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{
    "id": 1106028,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1106028/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 272,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Omogeni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13219,
        "legal_name": "Erick Okong'o Mogeni",
        "slug": "erick-okongo-mogeni"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to rise in support the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No. 33 Of 2021) that has been sponsored by my good friend, Sen. (Dr.) Kang’ata. I would like to begin by thanking the Senator for Murang’a County, Sen. (Dr.) Kang’ata whom I am told is preparing himself to become the Governor of Murang’a County and I wish him well. This Bill is meant to put in place mechanisms for protecting the interests of our brothers and sisters who live in the diaspora. I would like to acknowledge that at times, it is not out of choice that Kenyans migrate to other countries. Some people migrate to other countries because we have been unable to grow our economy to the level that we can absorb all the youths that graduate from our universities, technical colleges and high schools. We must thank the many countries out there that have graciously offered employment opportunities to our youth out there. We must also thank the Kenyans living in the diaspora who contribute immensely to the growth of our economy. You can imagine what would happen to this country if Kenyans in the diaspora woke up one day and said that they are not going to do any remittance back to their motherland. As of this year, our sisters and brothers in the diaspora reemitted a total of US $350 million to our economy. That is a colossal amount of money. The people living in the diaspora are people that we know. They are our brothers and sisters. I have several kinsmen who live out there. I have a sister who lives in the United States of America (USA). In my county of Nyamira and the neighboring Kisii County, there are so many people from the Abagusii Community who live and work in the diaspora. Madam Temporary Speaker, I must say that this is a very good Bill because it seeks to protect and safeguard the welfare of Kenyans who in all sense of the word remain Kenyans. When we were enacting the Constitution of Kenya 2010, we were innovative enough to put a clause that allows for dual citizenship so that Kenyans can feel a sense of belonging despite the many years that they spend out there, they still have connection to their motherland and that they can freely move back even as they acquire citizenship in other countries out there. Madam Temporary Speaker, like the other colleagues who have made contribution before me have stated, I have been privileged to meet Kenyans out there who have raised concerns on the issue of passports. I remember that in 2019, I was in Melbourne over some private business and I happen to meet the Chairperson of the Kenyans community in Melbourne, Australia; a gentleman called Michael from Western Kenya. The Kenyans in Melbourne shared with me the agonizing experiences and cost implications for a Kenyan who wants to renew his or her passport. They have to travel all the way to the capital city in Canberra."
}