Good Citizenship

Citizenship means belonging and supporting one’s community and country. By ‘one’s community’ it does not mean your ethnic community but all the people with whom you live and interact with everyday. Good citizenship means that you honour and value your country in such a way that you are prepared to sacrifice all for its survival.

In order to be called a Kenyan, you are entitled and must possess documents of registration showing that you are a citizen.  Such documents are like:

• Birth Certificate
• National Identity Card
• Passport
• PIN
• Marriage Certificate

As a Kenyan, you are also granted rights, privileges and benefits of citizenship by the constitution. The New Constitution of Kenya that came into effect on 27th August 2010, has a comprehensive Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is a list of basic human rights that the government of Kenya is obliged by law to guarantee its citizens. Ensure that you understand your rights by reading the New Constitution of Kenya Chapter 4.

However, rights and liberties of citizens also come with responsibilities. A citizen is expected to abide to the law and uphold democratic principles such as tolerance and civic responsibility. This means that you are expected to:

• Get education
• Work
• Pay taxes
• Vote
• Protect and conserve natural resources and public property
• Live in harmony with others
• Promote family life
• Participate in activities that contribute to the common good of all Kenyans.