Andrew Kamau is now living the American dream, having recently attained US citizenship through naturalization at the Museum of Science and Industry.

He joined 140 other new citizens in celebrating this significant milestone at a museum that fosters a spirit of wonder and encourages individuals to dream big.

Whistling the national anthem softly, Kamau recalled moving to the US in the year 2000 as an international student. 

“I was born and raised in Kenya, in Nairobi. I moved to this country 23 years ago as a college student,” he said.

The father of 3 expressed his delight at finally becoming a US citizen after formally renouncing his motherland by taking oath in front of a presiding judge and witnesses. 

“I’m becoming a U.S. citizen today…The promise of this country is still very real,” he said, explaining that the crowd were a beautiful mosaic of people that weren’t perfect, but beautiful. 

Bethany McKnight-Kamau, Andrew’s wife could not hide her elation at the family’s head becoming a citizen of the US. Now, the whole family are US citizens. 

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“He’s now a citizen and his family are all citizens and so for us to be able to have that moment together is, I think, really special,” she said. 

This was the first time that a naturalization ceremony was being held at a Museum. In recognition of the occasion, the Museum of Science and Industry gifted all the new citizens and their families a free, annual membership. 

In Kenya, the constitution permits citizens to hold dual nationality. Moreover, individuals who have renounced their citizenship status are eligible to reacquire it through a later application process.

In the United States, immigrants who want to attain citizenship are required to renounce their original country of citizenship before being granted status.