Kenya has announced a shift in its travel policies, allowing citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without prior authorisation.
But the introduction of Electronic Travel Authorisation, which replaced the visa requirement for all visitors, was criticised as a “visa under another name”.
The decision, confirmed by a cabinet statement on Tuesday, eliminates the need for Electronic Travel Authorisation for most African visitors, apart from those from “Somalia and Libya due to security concerns,” as reported by BBC.
This move comes as part of Kenya’s efforts to enhance regional integration, support open skies policies, and boost tourism.
Under the updated guidelines, citizens of most African nations can enter Kenya and stay for up to two months without any travel pre-authorisation. Members of the East African Community, including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, can stay for up to six months, aligning with bloc policies.
The ETA system, introduced last year to replace traditional visas, required travellers to apply and pay $30 online for pre-approval before entering Kenya. Despite being presented as a visa-free policy, critics labelled it as cumbersome and akin to a visa in all but name.
The policy also coincided with Kenya’s drop in the Africa Visa Openness Index rankings, where it fell 17 places to 46th out of 54 nations.
This latest directive aims to simplify travel while addressing security concerns.
The government plans to enhance pre-screening processes and strengthen security at entry points. It also promised improved traveller experiences at airports, with plans for instant travel approvals and a maximum processing time of 72 hours.
Kenya joins countries like Ghana and Rwanda in easing intra-African travel restrictions, aligning with the African Union’s push for greater integration and movement across the continent.
However, questions remain about the timeline for implementing these changes, as ministries have been tasked with finalising guidelines within a week.
Despite these developments, the ETA system continues to face scrutiny for potentially deterring visitors. Initially, more than 40 countries enjoyed visa-on-arrival privileges in Kenya, allowing free and immediate entry.
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