Kenya has seen a significant drop in its ranking for openness to visitors from other African nations, despite implementing a “visa-free policy” earlier this year. The 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) shows Kenya falling 17 places to 46th out of 54 countries.
Last year, President William Ruto gained acclaim for announcing that Kenya would remove visa requirements for African travelers. However, the new system mandates most travelers to apply for online Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure, a move some critics describe as “a visa under another name.” Processing ETAs can take up to three days, and only East African Community (EAC) citizens are exempt.
The AVOI, supported by the African Union and managed by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), evaluates visa policies across African nations. The report notes that Kenya’s reliance on ETAs has hurt its score, adding unnecessary hurdles for travelers. AfDB director Joy Kategekwa highlighted the broader challenge of intra-African travel restrictions, calling it a contradiction to the continent’s regional integration goals.
Introduced with a focus on security, the ETA requires travelers to submit documents such as flight details and hotel bookings and pay a $30 fee for a 90-day validity. This replaces the previous system, where travelers from over 40 countries, including many in Africa, could enter Kenya visa-free or pay $50 for a multiple-entry visa valid for years.
Critics like Mohamed Hersi, a hotelier, and Gina Din, an entrepreneur, argue that the ETA complicates travel, contradicting the policy’s intent to boost accessibility. Meanwhile, the Kenyan government defends the system as a necessary security measure to counter global threats, including terrorism from al-Shabab militants.
Despite the controversies, the ETA has not deterred international tourism, with Kenya reporting over a million visitors in the first half of 2024—a 21% rise compared to last year.
In contrast, countries like Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles rank highest in visa openness, requiring no visas for Africans. Sudan, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, and Eritrea are ranked lowest. The AVOI report indicates a slight overall decline in the continent’s visa openness scores, underscoring the need for more inclusive policies.
