The government has reneged its earlier declaration by president William Ruto to make Kenya a visa-free country for all foreigners beginning January this year and now require foreigners visiting the Kenya to apply for visas as usual until the development of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system is complete and dully communicated, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said yesterday.
However, no timeline has been given on when the ETA system will be complete.
In a quick dispatch to newsrooms yesterday, KCAA said this will be the case until changes announced by the government on the ETA system are communicated.
“All travellers coming to Kenya from countries that require visas shall continue applying for visas in the usual manner until the government communicates more on the ETA system.” The statement read in part.
President Ruto has been championing the realisation of a borderless Africa by advocating for Visa-free travel.
However, highly placed sources in government intimated to The Informer Media Group that security sector players within government have raised serious concerns the visa-free requirement would pose to the country at a time the country is fighting to contain security challenges including terrorism threats posed by the Al shabaab militants.
Also, in May last year, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced government decision to delay the planned reopening of three border points between Kenya and Somalia at Bulahawa which connects Kenya to Somalia in Mandera, Liboi, which links the two countries at Garissa and at Ras Kamboni – Lamu following resurgence of terror attacks.
Yesterday, KCAA added that the ETA system is still in the process of development and implementation, noting that the digital platform will ensure that all travelers to Kenya are identified in advance.
During last year’s Jamuhuri Day celebrations held on December 12, 2023, president Ruto publicly announced abolishment of visa requirements for all global visitors beginning this month during adding that the government had developed a digital platform to facilitate visa-free entry.
He noted then that the abolishment lies on the backdrop of embracing globalisation and opening the borders to spur the socio-economic development of the country.
“Beginning January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country. 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.” President Ruto told the nation during his address at the Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.
Kenya was the second country in Africa to announce that it had opened its borders, after Rwanda did so on November 3, 2023.
Kenya has already lifted visa requirements for Indonesia nationals following talks between President Ruto and the Southeast Asian country’s leader Joko Widodo on August 21, 2023.
This made Indonesia join Senegal and Congo as the countries Kenya has visa-free agreements with.