Ruto's Visa-Free Directive Postponed; Here's Why
As such, foreigners wishing to travel to Kenya will continue to apply for visas as normal through Kenyan embassies
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The government has announced that it is postponing President William Ruto's directive that visitors from around the world will enter Kenya without having to apply for a visa to a date yet to be announced.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) revealed in a statement that the alternative application model, the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to facilitate visits to Kenya, was yet to be fully developed.
“Following the presidential directive that Kenya will be a visa-free country from January 2024, an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system is in the process of development and implementation," read the statement in part, whose authenticity was confirmed by officials at KCAA who spoke to Viral Tea.
A photo of the Kenyan flag and a visa document. /FILE
As such, foreigners wishing to travel to Kenya will continue to apply for visas as normal through Kenyan embassies.
“All travellers coming to Kenya from countries that require visas shall continue applying for visas in the usual manner until the government communicates the change program to the ETA system," the statement added.
Salim Bakari, the head of corporate communications at KCAA, told Viral Tea that the announcement by KCAA resulted from an advisory by the Immigrations Department on the same.
An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to a specific country without requiring a traditional visa.
It is an electronic form of permission that travellers must obtain before boarding a flight or entering the destination country, and in this case, meant to tame the influx of travellers to Kenya once the visas are abolished.
ETAs are often used to streamline the entry process, enhance security, and facilitate easier monitoring of travellers.
Normally, one is required to have a valid passport for verification, and will also be needed to pay a fee. In some cases, additional identification documents may be required before the authorization is validated.
The ETA is then electronically linked to one’s passport or travel document.
Under the visa-free policy, Kenya will begin using the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to identify visitors entering its soil. Therefore, the eTA becomes mandatory for all foreign visitors, except for citizens from the East African Community (EAC) Member States.
Furthermore, the government through the Ministry of Interior announced that ETA charges would be $30 (approximately Ksh4,500).
President William Ruto on Tuesday, December 12 announced that Kenya was gravitating towards a visa-free regime, a historic directive in the country's 60-year history.
"It is with great pleasure, as President of this extraordinary country, to make a historic announcement of the decision of the Government of Kenya. Beginning in 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.
"To echo the call of the Turkana people to the world: “Tobong’u Lorre!” Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home! This is why, the Government has abolished the requirement of visas for all our visitors," Ruto announced while addressing the nation during the 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations.
