This visa-free initiative aligns with the country’s goal of promoting visa openness among African nations and facilitating smoother cross-border transactions and business activities.
Visa-free access within Africa refers to policies or agreements that enable citizens of one African country to travel to another without requiring a visa or by following simplified visa procedures.
However, over the past decade, the continent has struggled to fully implement this policy, drawing criticism from stakeholders.
While some foreign countries enjoy visa-free access to African nations, many African countries still impose stringent visa requirements on each other, creating significant barriers to free movement and regional integration.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), the ongoing necessity for Africans to obtain visas to travel within the continent starkly contradicts Africa’s aspirations for regional unity and integration.
Africa’s visa openness status
Before Kenya announced this policy, only five African nations offered visa-free travel to citizens of other African countries: Ghana, Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin.
Last year, Kenya did not feature among the top 10 countries on the African Visa Openness Index.
Kenya saw a significant decline on the index, dropping 17 places and before now, ranked 46th out of 54 African countries.
The African Visa Openness Index, compiled by the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission, measures the ease with which African citizens can visit other nations on the continent.
Leading the rankings were Benin, Seychelles, Rwanda, and The Gambia, each granting visa-free access to citizens of 53 African nations.
Ghana joined the ranks in December, opening its borders to travelers from across the continent.
Kenya seeks open borders
Last year, Kenya introduced its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) program, reducing visa costs from $50 to $30.
However, visitors were required to apply online, with approval taking up to three days.
This development faced criticism for falling short of expectations for visa openness, with some labeling it a mere “visa under another name.”
According to a BBC report, Kenya will now permit citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without requiring prior authorization, as per a new directive from the cabinet.
A cabinet statement clarified that the ETA requirement will be abolished for all African countries, except Somalia and Libya, citing security concerns.
Under the revised system, citizens of most African nations will be allowed to enter and stay visa-free for up to two months.
Additionally, members of the East African Community—comprising Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi—will be permitted to stay for up to six months in line with the bloc’s policy.
Although no fixed timeline has been set for the policy’s implementation, Kenya plans to introduce an enhanced process enabling instant travel approval, with a maximum processing time of 72 hours.
