Kenyan President William Ruto has announced a policy that will grant visa-free access to all African visitors by the end of the year, News About Nigeria reports.
This development offers an open door to travellers connecting flights to various countries and flying to Kenya, marking a positive contrast to the recent suspension of visa-on-arrival policies for Nigerians by some nations, leading to travel challenges for Nigerian citizens.
President Ruto made this declaration at an international conference, highlighting the importance of unifying African travel regulations. He stated, “It is time we realize that having visa restrictions amongst ourselves is working against us.”
This move is particularly noteworthy given that visa-free travel within the continent has been a long-standing goal of the African Union (AU).
While regional deals and bilateral arrangements have been established, progress towards a visa-free continent has been slow.
According to a 2022 AU-backed report, only Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin offer entry to all African citizens without a visa.
Kenya’s decision aligns with the principles outlined in the AU’s Visa Openness Index, which measures the extent to which African countries simplify entry processes and eliminate restrictions.
In 2022, Kenya was ranked 31st on the Visa Openness Index out of 54 African states, demonstrating its commitment to facilitating intra-African travel.
President Ruto emphasised the economic benefits of this policy, saying, “When people cannot travel, businesspeople cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel, we all become net losers.”
He made this announcement at a summit focused on protecting some of the world’s largest rainforests.
The African Union launched the African passport in 2016 to enable all African citizens to travel throughout the continent without visas.
However, the widespread availability of this passport is still pending, making Kenya’s commitment to ending visa requirements a significant step towards realizing the AU’s vision of a borderless Africa.
