When Kenya achieved independence on December 12, 1963, one of the first major issues facing Asians was citizenship. The British colonial government required Asians to declare whether they wished to become Kenyan citizens or retain British citizenship. This choice had profound implications for legal status, economic rights, and future prospects.
The Citizenship Requirement
At independence, all residents had to choose citizenship. Africans automatically became Kenyan citizens. Asians and Europeans had to make active declarations. The British government offered a choice: take Kenyan citizenship (with full residence in Kenya but no automatic British rights), or retain British citizenship (with uncertain residence rights in Kenya). This choice was not neutral; it was loaded with political significance.
The Two-Passport Strategy
Many Asians chose British citizenship or dual citizenship as a security strategy. Having a British passport offered options: ability to live in Britain, access to British institutions and networks, and a security net if conditions in Kenya deteriorated. This "two passport" strategy reflected Asians' anxiety about their status in post-colonial Africa. They did not fully trust that African majority rule would protect Asian interests.
Those Who Chose Kenyan Citizenship
Some Asians, particularly those with long family histories in Kenya or strong economic investments, chose to become Kenyan citizens. They committed themselves to Kenya's future. These Asians often spoke of themselves as "Kenyan Asians" (rather than "Indians in Kenya"). They invested in real estate, started families, and participated in Kenya's civil society.
Post-Citizenship Crisis: 1967-1968
In 1967-1968, Jomo Kenyatta's government passed laws designed to Africanise Kenya's economy. Business licenses were converted to require Kenyan citizenship or partnership with Africans. Civil service positions were reserved for Africans. These laws squeezed Asian businesses and created pressure for Asian emigration.
The Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1968
Britain's response to the crisis was to restrict immigration from Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1968 limited the right of UK passport holders to migrate to Britain. Many British passport holders of Asian origin (particularly from Kenya) were suddenly denied the right to live in Britain. This was a shock: many Asians had retained British passports believing they offered security, only to find themselves without access to Britain.
The 1967-1968 Crisis in Kenya-Britain Relations
The citizenship crisis created tension between Kenya and Britain. The Kenyatta government saw Asian economic dominance as incompatible with African majority rule. Britain tried to manage the crisis diplomatically. Asian businesspeople were left in limbo, unable to rely on British protection, pressured to leave Kenya, or forced to adapt to new rules.
Emigration Waves
The citizenship and Africanisation crises triggered massive emigration of Asians from Kenya. Many chose to leave for Britain, Canada, the United States, or India. Those who emigrated were typically younger, more educated, and more internationally mobile. Those who remained were often older, more deeply invested in Kenya, or less able to emigrate.
Those Who Remained: The Committed Community
The Asians who remained (and who chose Kenyan citizenship) became the core of the permanent Kenyan Asian community. Many took seriously the idea of building Kenya as a plural, multi-ethnic society. They invested in education, business, and civil society. Their descendants, now in the third or fourth generation, view themselves as fully Kenyan.
Long-Term Consequences
The citizenship choices made in 1963-1968 had lasting consequences. Asians with British or other foreign passports maintained emigration options. Those with only Kenyan citizenship became fully Kenyan, unable to live elsewhere without new visa processes. The two-passport strategy allowed some Asians to maintain global options, but others saw it as a sign of lack of commitment to Kenya.
Contemporary Echoes
As of 2026, many Kenyan Asians (even those born in Kenya) maintain foreign passports as a security measure. This reflects persistent anxiety about belonging and vulnerability. The citizenship question of 1963 thus continues to shape Kenyan Asian identity and political psychology.
See Also
- Asian Kenya Timeline
- Africanisation and Asian Business
- Asian Kenyans Today
- Asian Kenyans Under Colonial Rule
- Commonwealth Immigrants Act
Sources
- Wikipedia: "Indians in Kenya" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indians_in_Kenya)
- OpenEdition: "Kenya in Motion 2000-2020, Minorities of Indo-Pakistani Origin" (https://books.openedition.org/africae/2590?lang=en)
- CSMonitor: "Kenya's Asians: needed but not wanted" (https://www.csmonitor.com/1986/0821/oken.html)