South Korea ambassador nominee Mwende Mwinzi asked to renounce US citizenship

President Uhuru Kenyatta's nominee for the High Commissioner to South Korea, Ms Mwende Mwinzi ahs been asked to renounce her United States citizenship before taking up the job.

Ms Mwinzi who as approved by the National Assembly Defence Committee was given the condition based on provisions of the Integrity Act.

The report presented before Parliament on Tuesday partly read: "The committee recommends that Ms Mwinzi be appointed subject to renouncing her US citizenship."

Mwende Mwinzi, High Commissioner to South Korea nominee asked to renounce her US citizenship to get the job Pulse Live Kenya

I did not choose where I'd be born - Mwende Mwinzi

During her interview with the MPs, Ms Mwinzi clarified that her US citizenship was not a choice.

"I was born in the US but I belong to Kenya. You can choose where to belong but you cannot choose where to be born.

"I am a Kenyan through and through. I speak fluent Kamba and Kiswahili," she stated.

She also emphasized that her loyalty lies with Kenya noting that she had participated in more Kenyan elections than US ones.

Mwende Mwinzi, nominee for the High Commissioner to South Korea asked to renounce her US citizenship Pulse Live Kenya

Ms Mwinzi was approved to vie for the Mwingi West parliamentary seat during the 2017 General Election where she contested on a Jubilee Party ticket.

"I am humbled by the warmth the people of Mwingi West have received me with. If you remember, I have been working with many of them in the last 10 to 15 years and so I am not a stranger.

"I want to make a difference in the quality of our people's lives. I have done this from out there and I will do it in there," she stated during the 2017 campaigns.