Kenya to be a visa-free country from January 2024

BY AGENCIES

NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has said that by the beginning of 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country. 

Image: Citizen Digital 

He was speaking on Tuesday during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, where he noted that the abolishment of visa requirements lies is premised on embracing globalisation as well as opening the borders to foster the socio-economic development of the country.

"It is with great pleasure, as President of this extraordinary country to make a historic announcement of the decision of the Government of Kenya," he said.

"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," said Ruto.

President Ruto said that Kenya is the home of humanity, a scientific fact that fills us with pride and underscores our rich heritage.

For this reason, he said it shall no longer be necessary for any person from any part of the world to bear the burden of applying for a visa when coming 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," he said.

He further stated that in order to bring this policy to life, a digital platform has been developed to ensure that all travellers to Kenya will be identified in advance on an electronic platform. 

He added that upon identification, the visitor will obtain an electronic travel authorisation.

"All travellers will obtain electronic travel authorisation," Ruto said.

President Ruto has been championing the realisation of a borderless Africa by advocating for visa-free travel.

Rwanda, The Gambia, Seychelles and Benin are the other African countries with a visa-free policy. The four, however, extended visa-free travel to African citizens only.

Travellers to Kenya would stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days for visitation, tourism, medical or business.

"The length of stay in Kenya begins on the date of entry into Kenya," the Kenyan High Commission says.

Before waiving visa requirements for all nations, Kenya had recently lifted visa requirements for Indonesia nationals.

Ruto announced that Kenya had lifted visa restrictions on Indonesian passport holders after bilateral talks with the Southeast Asian country’s leader Joko Widodo on August 21.

This made Indonesia join Senegal and Congo as the countries Kenya has visa-free agreements with in recent months. Comoros is also set to ink a similar agreement with Kenya by the end of the year.