By John Ikani
Kenya has faced a sharp decline in its openness to visitors from other African nations, despite unveiling a “visa-free policy” earlier this year. The 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) ranked Kenya 46th out of 54 countries, a drop of 17 places from the previous year.
The new policy, announced with much fanfare by President William Ruto in 2023, was intended to eliminate visa requirements for African travelers. However, it has been replaced by the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), an online pre-travel approval system that critics have called “a visa in disguise.”
The ETA requires travelers to apply before departing, with processing times of up to three days. While citizens of the East African Community (EAC) are exempt, others must navigate additional bureaucratic hurdles, leading to criticism that the system complicates travel rather than simplifying it.
The AVOI, a joint initiative by the African Union and the African Development Bank (AfDB), assesses how accessible African nations are to visitors based on visa regulations. Kenya’s ranking was impacted by the requirement for ETAs, which the report said added “extra layers of requirements” for travelers.
AfDB director Joy Kategekwa highlighted the broader implications of restrictive policies, noting that “Africans still require visas to visit most African countries, which contradicts the continent’s ambitions for regional integration.” The report further pointed out that while ETAs aim to streamline processes, they often resemble traditional visas in complexity.
Before the ETA’s introduction, visitors from over 40 countries, including many in Africa, could enter Kenya with minimal hassle, often receiving a simple stamp on arrival. Now, most travelers must present detailed documents such as flight itineraries and hotel reservations, alongside a $30 fee for a single-entry permit valid for 90 days.
While officials argue that the ETA enhances security—citing concerns over global threats like terrorism—the policy has raised concerns among tourism stakeholders. Mohamed Hersi, a former chair of the Kenya Tourism Federation, warned in January that the ETA “is not truly visa-free” and risks deterring potential visitors.
Entrepreneur Gina Din echoed similar frustrations, calling the ETA a step backward and urging a reassessment to improve accessibility. She emphasized that the added bureaucracy makes Kenya less attractive to African travelers seeking ease of movement.
Despite these challenges, Kenya’s tourism sector has remained resilient. The Kenya Tourism Board reported over one million international arrivals in the first half of 2024, a 21% rise from the previous year.
On the continent, nations like Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, and the Seychelles lead the way in visa openness, allowing Africans to enter freely. At the opposite end, Sudan, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, and Eritrea remain the least accessible. Overall, the report noted a slight decline in Africa’s visa openness, despite pockets of progress.
