Mwingi West MP Nguna vows to resign over dual citizenship
Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna addressing a past burial service in his constituency. He has denied being a dual national. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Nguna denied being a Greek citizen as alleged by activist Okiya Omtatah.
- The issue of such nationality came out strongly during the vetting of Ms Mwinzi as the envoy to Seoul.
Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna on Saturday said he will resign if it is proved he has dual citizenship.
The Wiper Democratic Movement politician denied being a Greek citizen as alleged by activist Okiya Omtatah, who asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate nine other MPs over dual nationality.
Mr Nguna said it is easy to prove if one is a dual citizen. "This is baseless propaganda engineered by my political opponents after I defended diplomatic nominee Ms [Mwende] Mwinzi, both on the floor of the House and outside," he said.
The legislator clarified that his parents being Greek citizens does not necessarily qualify him as one too.
"I’ve worked with international companies, and by virtue of that lived outside Kenya, but I never sought dual citizenship. The fact that I visit my parents in Greece quiet often doesn’t mean I am a citizen. I want EACC to hasten their investigations into the matter," he said.
MWINZI NOMINATION
The issue of such nationality came out strongly during the vetting of Ms Mwinzi as the envoy to Seoul, South Korea.
Ms Mwinzi moved to the High Court last month seeking to have the National Assembly stopped from forcing her to renounce her US citizenship before taking up the role. The case will be heard next week.
She argued that the MPs' action is tantamount to violation of her 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," she argues in her affidavit.
And adds: "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."
On Thursday, EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak said investigations are on. Those suspected of holding dual nationality include Mr Aden Duale (Garissa Township), Mr Yusuf Hassan (Kamukunji), Ms Sophia Abdi Noor (Ijara), Mr Haji Ali (Mandera South), Mr Mohamed Dahir Duale (Dadaab), Mr Mohammed Garane (Lagdera), Ms Jane Kihara (Naivasha), Senators Ledama ole Kina (Narok) and Susan Kihika (Nakuru).
