registration, and naturalisation. The African Committee has found sufficient evidence that
indeed some persons (including children) of Nubian descent in Kenya have acquired
Kenyan nationality through one of these four ways. Therefore, neither the Communication
alleges nor the African Committee believes that all children of Nubian descent in Kenya
have been left stateless. However, the crux and truth of the matter is that, even with the
application of these (fairly restrictive)four ways through which a person can become a
Kenyan national, a significant number of children of Nubian descent in Kenya have been left
stateless.
50. As a result, the duty in Article 6(4) of the African Children’s Charter to ensure that a
child “…acquire the nationality of the State in the territory of which he has been born if, at
the time of the child’s birth, he is not granted nationality by any other State in accordance
with its laws” is squarely applicable to the present Communication as an obligation of the
Government of Kenya. This, by no means, is an attempt by the African Committee to be
prescriptive about the choice States make in providing for laws pertaining to the acquisition
of nationality. Therefore, while the African Committee is not suggesting that States Parties
to the Charter should introduce the jus soli approach, in line with the best interests of the
child principle, it is explaining the intent of Article 6(4) of the African Children’s Charter
that if a child is born on the territory of a State Party and is not granted nationality by
another State, the State in whose territory the child is born, in this particular case Kenya,
should allow the child to acquire its nationality.
51. It may have been further argued (by the Government of Kenya), perhaps rather
loosely, that the children of Nubian descent in Kenya may be entitled to the nationality of
the Sudan, and, as a result, the Government does not have to provide them with Kenyan
nationality. However, such a line of argument would be remiss of the fact that, implied in
Article 6(4) is the obligation to implement the provision proactively in cooperation with
other States, particularly when the child may be entitled to the nationality of another State.
In the Communication at hand, nothing has transpired that indicates that the Government, if
it holds such view, has undertaken any meaningful efforts to ensure that these children
acquire the nationality of any other state.
52. In this regard, it is apposite to further highlight the nature of the State Party
obligation that Article 6(4) of the Charter provides, which is – “undertake to ensure”. As
such, the obligation that States Parties including Kenya have under Article 6(4) of the
Charter is not an obligation of conduct but an obligation of result. States Parties need to
make sure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent the child from having no
nationality.
53.
The African Committee notes and commends the new Constitutional dispensation
introduced in 2010 in Kenya which ushers a number of advancements in promoting and
protecting children’s rights, including their right to acquire a nationality. In particular,
Article 14(4) of the 2010 Constitution entrenches that a child less than eight years of age
whose parents are not known is presumed to be a citizen by birth. While the African
Committee lauds the effort of the State Party in providing for this provision in its
Constitution, it would like to draw the attention of the State Party that this provision is still
not a sufficient guarantee against statelessness, let alone address the crux of the present
Communication- namely, children born in Kenya of stateless parent(s) or who would
otherwise be stateless, to acquire a nationality by birth.
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