Kenya’s New Visa-Free Scheme Criticized Over Delay And Cost

By Jean Pierre Afadhali

The long-awaited Kenya’s visa-free scheme that allows anyone visiting the east African country to enter without visa unveiled at the beginning of January has been criticized over the time it takes to apply and the required fees.

Kenya’s president announced last year that from January 2024 Kenya will be a visa-free country for any traveler from around the world making free movement of people a reality amid increasing challenges for Africans to travel across Africa and beyond.

However, the highly-applauded policy that was launched last week has faced backlash. Travelers and some Kenyan nationals are saying the scheme dubbed ‘Electronic Travel authorization’ (ETA) is hindering the already existing free-visa scheme between Kenya and some countries, while it also takes visitors’ time to apply and receive a response prior to their trip.

Kenya’s government has said last week Friday that it had welcomed the first batch of visitors who arrived under the new system it hopes it will encourage visitors.

According to the country’s immigration services department, the "maiden visa-free arrivals" landed in Nairobi from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa and more were expected to touch down in coming days.

However, the highly anticipated policy is being criticized by some observers, travelers and some Kenyan nationals over the challenges visitors say they are facing to enter the country.

In the new immigration system, visitors need to apply for ETA by submitting documentation and pay $30 processing fee.

However, the requirement applies also to countries whose citizens previously had unrestricted access to Kenya, leading to complaints, confusion and criticism from some visitors saying it takes their time and is also an additional cost.

An X (formerly Twitter) user with the ‘mother of all passports’ as account name has urged immigration office to excused visa-exempt countries from ETA procedures.

“Please @immigration, organize your affairs and for the benefit of Kenyan passport holders, exclude visa-exempt countries from the ETA procedure. Imposing visa processes on nationals whose original arrangement was visa-free is not it.” The user posted adding “When they reciprocate tutawatembelea aje [ how will we visit them]?”

By Sunday, Kenya had received more than 9,000 visa applications through the digital platform, authorities said.

Hopewell Chin’ ono, a Zimbabwean journalist said via X (former Twitter) that Kenya is not telling the truth about its new visa-free scheme. Mr. Chin’ ono stated: “Dear Africans,

Kenya is not telling the world the truth when it says that it is now visa free, it is not!”

According to the Zimbabwean journalist who has previously visited the East African country, Kenyan government has “made traveling there more difficult for Africans who didn’t need a visa before, and I WON’T be going to Kenya unless if it is for work because of its new silly VISA regulations!”

Before the new system was implemented, visitors who don’t need visas to Kenya would easily go to Kenya without any prior application and present their passport and get visa on arrival or entry permission.

“Visitors to Kenya are now required to apply online for an electronic travel authorisation in advance of travel, we didn’t need to do this before Kenya’s fake visa free announcement,” Chin’ ono further added.

Africans are facing challenges to travel within the continent amid calls for a “borderless Africa” that would make easier for African to either do businesses or visit other countries. Advocates of free movement of people, say it will boost economic development as sectors such as tourism, education, health with benefit among others.