Kenya scraps visa requirements for African travelers

Africans planning to travel to Kenya can now rest easy and not worry about visa requirements.

Kenya has become the latest country to scrap visa requirements for Africans in a bid to boost integration and free movement.

President Uhuru Kenyatta made the announcement during his inauguration ceremony held at Moi International Stadium, Kasarani.

“For my fellow Africans, the free movement of people on our continent has always been a cornerstone of Pan-African brotherhood and fraternity.” He said.

“Today, I am directing that any African wishing to visit Kenya will be eligible to receive a visa at the port of entry."

The directive, he said, was meant to underscore Kenya’s commitment to enhance trade, security, and intercontinental travel.

Adding that, the visa requirement would not be done on the basis of reciprocity.

“The freer we are to travel and live with one another, the more integrated and appreciative of our diversity, we will become. The political balkanization that risks our mutual security, the negative politics of identity, will recede as our brotherhood expands to embrace more Africans.”

Kenya already has one of the most straightforward online processes for short-term visas and welcomes visitors with open arms.

The move is expected to work in favour of Kenya since already the country has one of the most powerful passports on the Continent, the most powerful Passport in Africa is Seychelles.

Currently, Kenyan citizens can travel visa-free or visa on arrival access to 69 countries and territories.

Kenya has some of the most beautiful sights in the world and a wide variety of wild animals in their natural habitants hence the Tourism sector can reap big from this directive.

Kenya joins the likes of Nigeria, Seychelles, Namibia, Ghana, Rwanda, Mauritius and Benin to mention but just a few.

According to the African Development Bank, which monitors visa openness of countries, at least 21 countries have loosened or scrapped their visa rules altogether.