Kenya is set to eliminate visa requirements for all African visitors by the end of the year, according to President .
Ruto stated at an international conference, “It is time we realize that having visa restrictions among ourselves is working against us.”
The African Union (AU) has been aiming for visa-free travel within the continent for the past decade, but progress has been slow, despite regional deals and bilateral arrangements.
According to a 2022 AU-backed report, only Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin currently offer entry to all African citizens without a visa.
However, most countries in Africa are making progress in simplifying entry processes and dropping restrictions for visitors from other African countries, as noted by Africa’s Visa Openness Index.
Kenya ranked 31st out of 54 states on the 2022 index.
In Congo-Brazzaville, President Ruto emphasized the negative impact of visa restrictions on business, stating, “When people cannot travel, businesspeople cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel, we all become net losers.”
Ruto announced to the conference delegates, “As Kenya, by the end of this year, no African will be required to have a visa to come to Kenya,” receiving enthusiastic cheers.
He added, “Our children from this continent should not be confined by borders in Europe and in Africa.”
The AU introduced the African passport in 2016, with the goal of enabling all African citizens to travel throughout the continent without visas. However, widespread availability of the passport remains a challenge due to concerns about security, smuggling, and local employment markets.
If eliminating all visa restrictions is currently considered too extreme, the Visa Openness Index report suggests alternative measures, such as reducing fees, implementing visa on arrival as the norm for African visitors, and establishing a secure e-visa system.
