• The visa-free directive follows a similar one in October where Ruto said Kenya would abolish visa requirement for all Africans by the end of December.
• Currently, only Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia and Benin are offering visa-free entry to all African citizens.
Image: FILE
Kenya is trailblazing the easing of global travel with an unprecedented plan to make entry to the country visa-free from January 2024.
The announcement by President William Ruto during national celebrations to mark the country’s 60th Jamhuri Day at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, set the country apart from her peers on the continent who still require visas for visitors to enter.
“It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya. To echo the call of the Turkana people to the world: “Tobong’u Lorre!” Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home!” Ruto said while announcing on December 12 describing it as historic.
Visa-free entry means travellers can enter a host country without the need for a visa although visitors will still need passports to enter visa-free states.
Governments usually offer visa-free travel to strengthen diplomatic relations with receiving countries or for economic purposes like boosting tourism.
Online registration for visitors
Ruto, however, said there is a catch to the visa-free declaration. He said the new policy will require visitors intending to come to Kenya to first register themselves on an electronic platform before flying in.
He said this would grant the visitors an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
“To implement this new policy, we have developed a digital platform to ensure that all travellers to Kenya are identified in advance on an electronic platform,” Ruto said.
By adopting the ETA, Kenya will join countries such as the UK and Canada which are already using online registration to allow travellers to enter their borders.
One requires a valid passport or other travel document for verification before being offered an ETA that's electronically linked to a passport or travel document.
ETA charges
Despite the visa requirement being scrapped, travellers will have to cough up several thousands of shillings to obtain the ETA.
The Ministry of Interior in November issued a gazette notice pegging ETA charges at $30 (about Sh4,600 at current exchange rate).
In the absence of the visa-free directive effective January 2024, visitors would have had to spend $100 (Sh15,340) for a Single Entry Visa, $500 (Sh76,700) for a Multiple Entry Visa, $160 (Sh24,544) for a 5-year Multiple Entry Visa and $200 (Sh30,680) for an extension of visa after six months, the gazette notice said.
The visa-free directive follows a similar one in October where Ruto said Kenya would abolish visa requirements for all Africans by the end of December.
While speaking in Congo-Brazzaville, the President said visa restrictions amongst African countries were working against them.
“As Kenya, by the end of this year, no African will be required to have a visa to come to Kenya. Our children from this continent should not be locked in borders in Europe and also be locked in borders in Africa,” he said.
Ruto has been at the forefront in advocating for unrestricted global travel saying the regime aligns with the Kenya Kwanza’s quest to boost borderless commerce and tourism.
He further holds that Kenya is the griddle of mankind and that humanity should not be restricted when going back home.
Currently, only Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia and Benin are offering visa-free entry to all African citizens.
Kenya, however, allows citizens of 43 states visa-free entry meaning all they need is their passports.
Citizens from ECOWAS visa-exempt countries can travel to Kenya and stay for a period of up to 90 days.
However, under the East African Agreement, the citizens of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda are allowed entry with just their national ID cards.
However, those from countries that are not visa-exempt can easily obtain an e-visa through a short and convenient process.