Kenya to Allow African Visitors Entry without Visa Requirements

Kenya's President William Ruto has announced that the country will abolish visa requirements for all African visitors by the end of the year. Speaking at an international conference, Ruto emphasized the need to remove visa restrictions among African nations as it hinders progress. While the African Union (AU) has been working towards achieving visa-free travel within the continent for the past decade, progress has been slow, with only a few countries like Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin allowing entry to all African citizens without a visa. However, most countries are making efforts to simplify entry processes and drop restrictions, according to Africa's Visa Openness Index. Kenya was ranked 31st out of 54 states on the index. Ruto highlighted the negative impact of visa restrictions on business, stating that when people cannot travel, opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesspeople are limited. He received applause when he declared that by the end of the year, Kenya would no longer require visas for any African visitors. Ruto stressed that Africa's children should not be confined by borders, both in Europe and within the continent. The African Union launched the African passport in 2016 to facilitate travel throughout the continent, but its availability is still limited due to concerns about security, smuggling, and the local job market. To promote easier travel, the Visa Openness Index report suggests measures such as reducing fees, implementing visa on arrival for African visitors, and establishing a secure e-visa system.