- Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the visitors arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) using the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
- The ETA application replaced the visa, after the President's directive that Kenya would be visa-free beginning 2024.
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Immigration officials announced Friday the first batch of Visa-free foreigners landed in Kenya four days after the program was scheduled to commence.
Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the visitors arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) using the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
One ETA costs Sh4,600 and is applied via the eCitizen platform.
He said over 5,000 ETA applications have already been received, with 2,141 approved so far.
The ETA application replaced the visa, after the President's directive that Kenya would be visa-free beginning 2024.
The government had postponed the rollout of the ETA system pending its implementation.
However, the government provided requirements for the approval of the ETA for travellers.
New rules are being put in place to enhance the process.
For instance, all passengers coming into the country will be subjected to advance screening using the Electronic Travel Authorization if proposed amendments to the law are enacted.
The Ministry of Interior has proposed a Bill, The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 that seeks to amend the principal regulations by introducing advance passenger information (API) and securing the data.
According to the Bill, API means the biographic data of a passenger or crew member and the flight details of an aircraft operator and other relevant details, against security databases which will be provided before they even arrive in the country.
The regulations and changes in the law will be taken through Parliament for approval.
The proposed changes, introducing prescreening, follow President William Ruto’s announcement of visa-free entry to Kenya.
The airlines or agents will play a key role in providing information and where access to specific API is necessary to respond to a threat, the aircraft operator will supply accurate data to the director of Immigration.
If the information is found to be erroneous, faulty or misleading, the airline shall be liable to pay an administrative penalty of USD10,000 (Sh1.57 million).
“An administrative penalty shall not be payable where the aircraft operator or pilot in command of the aircraft satisfies the Director that the contravention was not made knowingly or recklessly,” the regulations state.
The amendment also seeks to digitize immigration processes and integrate border services to enhance efficiency, improve security measures, facilitate a streamlined travel experience, and ensure security.
The Regulations seek to amend the principal regulations, the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 by, for example, deleting the word “visa” and substituting it with the words “Electronic Travel Authorization”.