President William Samoei Ruto has hosted his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa and high level delegations from the two states during his two-day state visit at State House today to discuss key partnership issues tied around trade, agriculture, housing and capacity building in the public service.
The two statesmen have committed to speed up the processes of implementing the move by loosening the existing stringent immigration policies between Kenya and South Africa in a bid to boost continental trade as the new regulations will see Kenyans travel freely to Africa’s second-largest economy visa-free for up to 90 days per year effective January 1, 2023.
“Kenya and South Africa are strategic allies with shared interests to build stronger socio-economic ties… Kenyans holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter South Africa on a visa-free regime for up to 90 days per calendar year,” Observed Ruto.
Ruto and Ramaphosa agreed on a returns policy in instances of breach of immigration laws and regulations of both countries so as to make sure that bad elements that try to infiltrate the two borders are dealt with firmly and decisively as well as agreeing to develop a sustainable mechanism to identify, monitor and resolve non-tariff barriers that limit trade potentials between the two nations.
“With the view of allowing Kenyans to visit South Africa on a free-visa basis, we have discussed the thorny issue of visas. We agreed that indeed that Kenyans should be able to visit South Africa without requiring them to have visas,” Ramaphosa stated.
The two Presidents signed four instruments of cooperation to enhance relations between the two countries including three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and one agreement on cooperation in the fields of correctional service, cooperation in the fields of housing and human settlement.
The two have agreed to enhance cooperation between Kenya School of Government (KSG) and the National School of Government from South Africa as well as audio-visual co-production.
The two national symbols have directed the respective trade ministers to develop mechanisms to identify, monitor and resolve the non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) limiting trade potential of the two nations so as to strengthen trade and investment.
The two presidents recognised the existing cordial atmosphere of the long standing warm, friendly and strategic relations.
