Kenya Breaks Down Travel Barriers for African Passport Holders
In a landmark policy shift, Kenya will allow most African citizens to enter without advance approval, signaling growing momentum for continent-wide mobility.
Kenya has announced that it will allow citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without pre-approval, replacing the universal electronic travel authorization systemestablished in January 2024. The move will allow most African citizens to stay in Kenya for up to two months with their passports only. Nearly all East African Community (EAC) passport-holders will continue to enjoy a six-month stay under EAC free movement policies.
Formerly, non-EAC nationals had to pay a $30 fee and apply in advance to travel to Kenya,except for South Africa, Ethiopia, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Eritrea, Mozambique and San Marino citizens. The cabinet described the new initiative as a way to “promote regional integrations and ease travel across the continent” in a statement released on Tuesday.Somalia and Libya, however, are excluded from the exemption due to “security concerns.” The exclusion of Somalia, in particular, has sparked criticism given its membership in the EAC and the significant Somali refugee population in Kenya. “Kenya’s decision is humiliating and weak for Somalia, which is a member of the EAC, and it is not right for Kenya to separate from the members of the organization,” reports the Horn Observer.
Speaking to OkayAfrica, Kenyan journalist Edith Ochieng praised the decision as a “great Pan-African move” while adding, “It will hopefully do away with profiling. Nationals from countries like Nigeria have in the past complained about unfair treatment and prejudice when applying for eTAs and Visas. Africans should be able to move within Africa freely.”
Nigerian writer Angel Nduka-Nwosu also welcomed Kenya’s steps toward easing travel restrictions. “It’s a step in the right direction, and more African nations should follow their steps,” she told OkayAfrica. Nigerians often bear the brunt of harsh travel rules from other countries, with Kenya, Ghana, Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa all having issued travel restrictions against Nigerian passport holders in the past. “It has often been said thattraveling within Africa is more difficult than traveling out of Africa. I’ve definitely had some negative experiences,” she added.
Non-African passport holders must still apply for an eTA to visit Kenya. However, the cabinet also announced improvements to this system to “improve efficacy” by capping processing times to 72 hours and adding a new instant approval option.
Kenya’s open-door policy for African adoption follows in the footsteps ofRwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, Benin, and, most recently, Ghana, whichannounced visa-free travel for all African passport holders on Jan. 1, 2025.
The African Union’s Agenda 2063 envisions a continent with seamless travel, but progress has been slow, with initiatives like the African Union passport, launched in 2016, still awaiting broader implementation.- Nine Things Tayo Aina Says You Should Know About Traveling Across the Continent Right Now ›
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