President William Ruto has announced that Kenya will remove visa requirements for all African visitors by the end of this year. Speaking at an international conference, the President emphasized the need to eliminate visa restrictions among African countries, as it hinders progress and economic growth.
The African Union has long advocated for visa-free travel within the continent. However, while there are regional and bilateral agreements in place, the progress towards removing restrictions has been slow. Only three countries – Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin – currently grant entry to all African citizens without a visa, according to a report supported by the African Union in 2022.
Nevertheless, according to the African Visa Openness Index, which measures the extent to which African countries are open to visitors from other African nations, most countries have made significant strides in simplifying entry processes and reducing restrictions for some countries. Kenya, ranked 31st out of 54 states on the index in 2022, has shown considerable progress.
President Ruto emphasized the negative impact of visa restrictions on business, stating that when people, including businesspeople and entrepreneurs, are unable to travel, everyone loses out. He pledged that by the end of this year, Kenya will no longer require African visitors to obtain a visa to enter the country. The President’s announcement received enthusiastic applause from the conference attendees.
Addressing the audience at a summit dedicated to the preservation of the world’s largest rainforests, President Ruto emphasized the importance of allowing the children of Africa to travel freely within their own continent and not be confined by borders, both in Africa and in Europe.
The African Union launched the African passport in 2016, with the aim of enabling all African citizens to travel throughout the continent without visas. However, the availability of the passport remains limited due to concerns regarding security, smuggling, and the impact on local employment markets.
While the complete removal of visa restrictions may still be a distant goal, the Visa Openness Index report suggests several measures to facilitate travel for African visitors. These include reducing visa fees, making visa-on-arrival the standard for African visitors, and implementing a secure e-visa system.
This significant development in Kenya’s visa policy reflects a growing trend towards greater integration among African nations and will undoubtedly enhance both business and cultural exchanges.
