The Diplomatic Privileges (Universal Postal Union) Order

LAWS OF KENYA
THE DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES (UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION) ORDER
NO. 1239 OF 1955
Revised and published by the National Council for Law Reporting
with the authority of the Attorney-General as gazetted by the Government Printer
www.kenyalaw.org

published by the National Council for Law Reporting
with the authority of the Attorney-General as gazetted by the Government Printer
www.kenyalaw.org

Kenya
Privileges and Immunities Act
The Diplomatic Privileges (Universal Postal Union) Order
Gazette Notice 1239 of 1955
Legislation as at 31 December 2022
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• SA: Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.
Share widely and freely.

The Diplomatic Privileges (Universal Postal Union) Order (Gazette Notice 1239 of 1955)
Contents
Paragraph 1. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Paragraph 2. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Paragraph 3. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Paragraph 4. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Paragraph 5. ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Paragraph 6. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Paragraph 7. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Paragraph 8. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Subparagraph (1) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Subparagraph (a) ....................................................................................................................................................................................

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1
Subparagraph (b) .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Subparagraph (2) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Subparagraph (3) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Paragraph 9. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Paragraph 10. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Subparagraph (a) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Subparagraph (b) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Subparagraph (c) ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Subparagraph (d) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Subparagraph (e) ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

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Subparagraph (f) ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Subparagraph (g) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Paragraph 11. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

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The Diplomatic Privileges (Universal Postal Union) Order (Gazette Notice 1239 of 1955) Kenya
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES ACT
THE DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES
(UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION) ORDER
GAZETTE NOTICE 1239 OF 1955
Published in Kenya Gazette Vol. LVII—No. 46 on 30 August 1955
Commenced on 30 August 1955
[Amended by Diplomatic Privileges (Universal Postal Union)
(Amendment) Order, 1962 (Legal Notice 375 of 1962) on 24 July 1962]
[Revised by 24th Annual Supplement (Legal Notice 221 of 2023) on 31 December 2022]
A - CITATION
1. This Order may be cited as the Diplomatic Privileges (Universal Postal Union) Order. B - THE ORGANIZATION
2. The Union shall have the legal capacities of a body corporate and, except in so far as in any particular case
it has expressly waived its immunity, immunity from suit and legal process. No waiver of immunity shall
be deemed to extend to any measure of execution. 3. The Union shall have the like inviolability of official archives and premises occupied as offices as is
accorded in respect of official archives and premises of an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to
Kenya. 4.

mises occupied as offices as is
accorded in respect of official archives and premises of an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to
Kenya. 4.

The Union shall have the like exemption or relief from taxes and rates, other than taxes on the
importation of goods, as is accorded to a foreign sovereign Power. 5. The Union shall have exemption from taxes on the importation of goods directly imported by the Union for
its official use in Kenya or for exportation, or on the importation of any publication of the Union directly
imported by it, such exemption to be subject to compliance with such conditions as the Commissioner of
Customs may prescribe for the protection of the revenue. 6. The Union shall have exemption from prohibitions and restrictions on importation and exportation in
the case of goods directly imported or exported by the Union for its official use and in the case of any
publications of the Union directly imported or exported by it. 7. The Union shall have the right to avail itself, for telegraphic communications sent by it and containing
only matter intended for publication by the Press or for broadcasting (including communications
addressed to or despatched from places outside Kenya), of any reduced rates applicable for the
corresponding service in the case of Press telegrams. C - REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNION
8.

aces outside Kenya), of any reduced rates applicable for the
corresponding service in the case of Press telegrams. C - REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNION
8.

(1) Except in so far as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the Government
whom they represent, representatives of members at Congresses, on the Executive and Liaison
Committee, at administrative conferences or on commissions provided for in the constitution of the
Union, or any committee of any of these bodies shall enjoy—
(a) while exercising their functions as such, and during their journey to and from the place of
meeting, immunity from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal
baggage and inviolability for all papers and documents;
(b) immunity from legal process of every kind in respect of words spoken or written and all acts
done by them in their capacity as representatives. 1

(b) immunity from legal process of every kind in respect of words spoken or written and all acts
done by them in their capacity as representatives. 1

The Diplomatic Privileges (Universal Postal Union) Order (Gazette Notice 1239 of 1955) Kenya
(2) Where the incidence of any form of taxation depends upon residence, representatives shall not be
deemed to be resident in Kenya during any period when they are present in Kenya for the discharge
of their duties. (3) For the purpose of the application of this Article, the expression "representatives" shall be deemed
to include, in addition to the representatives, the members of their official staffs, accompanying
them as such representatives, as alternate representatives, advisers, technical experts or secretaries
of delegations. D - HIGH OFFICIALS OF THE UNION
9.

m as such representatives, as alternate representatives, advisers, technical experts or secretaries
of delegations. D - HIGH OFFICIALS OF THE UNION
9.

Except in so far as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the Union, the Director of
the International Bureau of the Union (including any officer acting for him during his absence from duty)
shall be accorded, in respect of himself, his spouse and his children under the age of twenty-one the like
immunity from suit and legal process, the like inviolability of residence and the like exemption or relief
from taxes, other than income tax, as are accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to
Kenya and his spouse and children, and exemption from income tax in respect of emoluments received by
him as an officer of the Union. E - OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE UNION
10.

and children, and exemption from income tax in respect of emoluments received by
him as an officer of the Union. E - OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE UNION
10.

Except in so far as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the Union, officials of the
Union of any category specified by it shall enjoy -
(a) immunity from suit and legal process in respect of words spoken or written and things done or
omitted to be done by them in the course of the performance of their official duties; and
(b) exemption from income tax in respect of emoluments received by them as officers or servants of the
Union; and
(c) immunity from national service obligations; and
(d) immunity from immigration restrictions and alien registration in respect of officers and servants,
their spouses and dependent relatives; and
(e) the like privileges in respect of exchange facilities as are accorded to officials of equivalent status
forming part of diplomatic missions to the Government; and
(f) the like facilities for officers and servants, and their spouses and dependent relatives for
repatriation in times of international crisis as are afforded to diplomatic missions to the
Government; and
(g) exemption from tax or duty on the importation of furniture, personal property and household
effects, on an officer or servant first arriving to take up his post in Kenya.

r duty on the importation of furniture, personal property and household
effects, on an officer or servant first arriving to take up his post in Kenya.

[L.N. 375/1962, r. 2.]
F - GENERAL
11. The names of the persons specified from time to time in exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (3)
of section 2 of the Act as being entitled to the immunities and privileges referred to in this Order shall be
set forth in a list compiled and published from time to time showing in regard to each person a reference
to the notice prepared under the said subsection (3) and specifying the dates between which the office or
employment in question was held. [L.N. 375/1962, r. 2.]
2